Myra-myra
There was a thump on the window ledge, Sesshomaru was seated in the circularie, deep in a trance but not really thinking of anything when he heard it. Curiously he got up and went to the window. It had been windy that day so he had the shutters closed, or at least he did.
Strangely when he approached and pulled aside the curtains he noticed that they were wide open as if unlocked and opened from the outside. Puzzled he unlocked the window and opened it only to discover he had little time to ponder about the shutters when his eyes fell on a moderately sized dark object positioned on the window ledge. It was rectangular and wrapped in cloth. Instantly recognized it as a package, just like the one he had received the other day.
The window was three stories high and looked out over a garden valley that was constantly patrolled by guards. Realizing that at any moment he could be spotted removing something mysterious from his window ledge he decided to act quickly. Grabbing the package he closed the window and drew the blinds—damn if Goldstone thinks he’s going to put a tax on this.
Looking down at the package that was now in his hands, he noticed that there was an envelope wedged beneath the twine that bound the fabric. An array of fragrances came from both it and the package, none of which he found unpleasant. Two of these scents immediately spurred his interest. One was the obvious scent of dried meat, like in the last package that he was grateful for obviously it contained more of it; the other was the scent of a demon. The same sent he had picked up also from the first… that same familiar scent he couldn’t place.
Eager to see what was inside he went to the bed. Feeling that he needed some concealment he drew the curtains and lit the lantern enclosing himself in a space of dim light. He then sat down on the edge positioning the package on his lap. He began to open it.
Slightly embarrassed that such a small thing was drawing such excitement from him, but it was like when the first package arrived he couldn’t help but feel oddly excited, uplifted as if there was a certain magic about it. He felt it again now and it only spurred his interest even more. Carefully he removed the envelope from the twine and used his claws to pry it open. On the inside was a folded piece of paper. He pulled it and red it. The handwriting was the same as on the first, bold large print, written as if by a child, but obviously not by a child, it read,
Tsuki, hello so here I am writing you again. The night is pleasant and I am under a brilliant moon you should see it. It’s like light raining down that I am able to write this in the dark. Yet somehow I find it strangely appropriate. Well enough of my rambling and I hope you do not find this annoying since we are complete strangers, but I tend to like to prolonging introductions to people I look forward to meeting. So I must ask for your pardon on my social nature, perhaps it’s just my anxiety. Anyway, I have come to the presumption that the meager supplies I’ve sent you may run short so here’s a little more. I hope that they compensate. Oh I almost forgot to mention, I sent you something that will enable us a means of communication. Just look in the supplies I’m sure you’ll see it. I hope you don’t find it too childish, since I merely bought it on a whim while thinking of you. It’s just a trinket really but, I hope you’ll find it useful. Well we’ll be meeting soon so be well until then … your friend OBJ.
Sesshomaru read the message over to ensure he didn’t miss any hidden meaning, but it was too strait forward and brief. A means to communicate, he pondered, sounds interesting. With that he held the paper up to his nose and drew in it scent. The demon’s fragrance was thick on the paper. It was definitely written by the same demon from whom the package was sent, and for a moment he thought that a memory had come back to him, but drew a blank.
Now he was even more curious so he set the letter aside and like a child with a Christmas present he pulled off the twine and removed the cloth revealing a small wooden box the same as the first. He lifted the lid and the first thing that came out at him was an array of fragrance.
He suddenly found himself in a cloud of all kinds of scents, fragrances and aromas all emanating from the little package. It’s as if whoever had sent it had jammed every little thing that could emit a potent scent inside and sent it. On the top was a dark cloth with something white set on top. Right away he identified it as a folded handkerchief. He picked it up and brought it to his nose. Again the scent was unmistakable. It was him, the same demon his essence was literally embedded in the cloth. He must have been carrying this on him for some time , he thought. Then a thought occurred to him, he deliberately send this to me so I would be familiar with his scent. So he must know I’m canine, considerate of him. Looking at the handkerchief he noticed that in the corner there was a small engraving in golden thread of the letters O, B and J.
He recalled noticing at the end of the massage there were the same three capital letters. These must be his initials , he thought. Demons of higher class often carried items that bore their signatures on them so others would know to whom they belonged if dropped. Of course assuming the demon was of higher class, his scent nonetheless suggested that he was.
Sesshomaru himself wasn’t one since the only thing he ever carried on him was his cloth, swords and armor, but he knew of plenty of other that did. No one would carry the handkerchief that had someone else’s initials on it, least of all send away as a care package to a person of particular interest.
O.B.J. I wonder who it could be. The letters were not familiar, he tried to recall any name that could match it but drew a blank. Deciding he’ll have time to think about it later put the handkerchief aside to commence exploring the package.
After removing the simple cloth that covered the rest of the contents, his eyes fell instantly on the bundle of dried meat that aligned the long side of the box. Removing that, he drew out a stick and without a thought or question brought it to his mouth bite off a fair chunk. It was good, not too salty and full of flavor, his lips, fangs and taste buds were pleased.
The flavor was a different stock of meat that he couldn’t quite place. He wondered if it was some kind of venison. It reminded him of the time when he was a boy and he would sneak off to the servant’s quarters at his parent’s castle to loot the storehouse for all kinds of goodies. Food that was otherwise considered low class fodder and beneath him to consume, like smoked fish and dried meat his mother always insisting in the freshest and rarest of foods for her and her son, that a stick or dry venison or dry lamb, fish, or human was to her an insult to their class stature.
He didn’t care; he could eat it, and was glad for it.
After savoring the first stick of meat he drew out a second and commenced to nibble on it as he began to take in the following contents. Like in the first package there were the familiar packages of herbs most likely for tea, apparently various assortments; Gazelle would have to explain their uses to him later. Next to those were several narrow packets bound up in paper propped up against a moderately sized scent candle that gave off a particularly pleasant aroma. Medicine of some kind, he assumed, recognizing the shape of the packets as triangular meaning they contained crucial or important ingredients such as for remedies or potions. Aside from that there was something else that was particularly unfamiliar, even a bit strange but it caught his eye. It was a doll, a small figurine clad in bight multicolored knitted clothing. It was about four inches tall and carried a pouch of folded paper on his back. In his hand was a stick of charcoal. Attached to it was a tag that read,
Hello, I am Mrya of the twin spirits, inscribe your thoughts on the paper and my sister do the rest.
Next to it was another envelope similar to the one that was bound beneath the twine that he already read. He took it and opening it read it contents.
Write to me.
That was all. Confused Sesshomaru looked back to the doll and lifted it from its slot. Write to me, what does he mean by that?
It didn’t take him long to figure it out and took one of the pieces of paper from the pouch on the figurine’s back and unfolded it. The paper was unfortunately very small, only four inches square, but was more than enough space to carry a simple message. And so placing the paper on his bed side table he took the charcoal from the doll’s hand and wrote down in the common speech the first and thought that came to mind,
how are you?
Then folded the paper back up and slipped it into the front pocket of the doll. Then placed it down on his bed side table, sat back and observed. Once set down the doll instantly it seemed to come alive. It rattled then kicked its embroidered boots together and sat down on its butt. At that point Sesshomaru noticed that the paper he had just logged into its breast pocket suddenly vanished.
He nearly flinched that it amused him, and the corner of his mouth curved upwards in what resembled a partial smile, well at least the thing woks. Now I guess I just wait and see what happens.
Already on his third stick of meat he sat back and waited for a response. To his delight, he needn’t wait long. The response came almost immediately as if the receiver on the other side was already prepared to answer.
Right away the doll began to shake and stood up the paper manifesting having returned to its breast pocket. Sesshomaru took it, and unfolding it, read its contents. It said in the same bold script…
A friend.
He stared at the paper, the word repeating in his mind, friend… a friend huh. Hm, well guess we’ll see… strange though this demon acts like he knows me. Then again, he had to laugh at himself, maybe he does.
~2~
Yomi was seated on the trunk of a fallen tree by a crystalline lake, the water glimmering from the reflection of moonlight on its subtle ripples. The myra doll still in his hand. All he had written on the paper was, ‘a friend.’ He knew it was a question that would be asked so he was already prepared with the answer.
A friend.
Is that what I am, a friend? He had to ask himself. So I’m a friend? Him well guess we’ll find out.
Returning the stick of coal to the doll’s hand he took a cloth from his coat and bound up the doll and returned it to the inner breast pocket of his robe. When he felt it rattle, pulling it back out he unwrapped it and felt the front pocket on its chest. There was another message. Delighted he took the paper unfolded it and as he did with the first message he held it up to the moonlight, focusing his senses on it. Then beneath his breath began to utter a short prayer, as if blessing the paper. When he did this the paper began to glow the script on it standing out like shadows before a blazing fire, it read,
Do I know you?
Yomi laughed, and he thought to write yeas we had met before but instead all he said was…
~3~
You will.
Sesshomaru smiled.
~4~
It was enough, Yomi returned the doll to his inn breast pocket stood up and found his way back to the road, to continue his journey west and to Westide.
There was a thump on the window ledge, Sesshomaru was seated in the circularie, deep in a trance but not really thinking of anything when he heard it. Curiously he got up and went to the window. It had been windy that day so he had the shutters closed, or at least he did.
Strangely when he approached and pulled aside the curtains he noticed that they were wide open as if unlocked and opened from the outside. Puzzled he unlocked the window and opened it only to discover he had little time to ponder about the shutters when his eyes fell on a moderately sized dark object positioned on the window ledge. It was rectangular and wrapped in cloth. Instantly recognized it as a package, just like the one he had received the other day.
The window was three stories high and looked out over a garden valley that was constantly patrolled by guards. Realizing that at any moment he could be spotted removing something mysterious from his window ledge he decided to act quickly. Grabbing the package he closed the window and drew the blinds—damn if Goldstone thinks he’s going to put a tax on this.
Looking down at the package that was now in his hands, he noticed that there was an envelope wedged beneath the twine that bound the fabric. An array of fragrances came from both it and the package, none of which he found unpleasant. Two of these scents immediately spurred his interest. One was the obvious scent of dried meat, like in the last package that he was grateful for obviously it contained more of it; the other was the scent of a demon. The same sent he had picked up also from the first… that same familiar scent he couldn’t place.
Eager to see what was inside he went to the bed. Feeling that he needed some concealment he drew the curtains and lit the lantern enclosing himself in a space of dim light. He then sat down on the edge positioning the package on his lap. He began to open it.
Slightly embarrassed that such a small thing was drawing such excitement from him, but it was like when the first package arrived he couldn’t help but feel oddly excited, uplifted as if there was a certain magic about it. He felt it again now and it only spurred his interest even more. Carefully he removed the envelope from the twine and used his claws to pry it open. On the inside was a folded piece of paper. He pulled it and red it. The handwriting was the same as on the first, bold large print, written as if by a child, but obviously not by a child, it read,
Tsuki, hello so here I am writing you again. The night is pleasant and I am under a brilliant moon you should see it. It’s like light raining down that I am able to write this in the dark. Yet somehow I find it strangely appropriate. Well enough of my rambling and I hope you do not find this annoying since we are complete strangers, but I tend to like to prolonging introductions to people I look forward to meeting. So I must ask for your pardon on my social nature, perhaps it’s just my anxiety. Anyway, I have come to the presumption that the meager supplies I’ve sent you may run short so here’s a little more. I hope that they compensate. Oh I almost forgot to mention, I sent you something that will enable us a means of communication. Just look in the supplies I’m sure you’ll see it. I hope you don’t find it too childish, since I merely bought it on a whim while thinking of you. It’s just a trinket really but, I hope you’ll find it useful. Well we’ll be meeting soon so be well until then … your friend OBJ.
Sesshomaru read the message over to ensure he didn’t miss any hidden meaning, but it was too strait forward and brief. A means to communicate, he pondered, sounds interesting. With that he held the paper up to his nose and drew in it scent. The demon’s fragrance was thick on the paper. It was definitely written by the same demon from whom the package was sent, and for a moment he thought that a memory had come back to him, but drew a blank.
Now he was even more curious so he set the letter aside and like a child with a Christmas present he pulled off the twine and removed the cloth revealing a small wooden box the same as the first. He lifted the lid and the first thing that came out at him was an array of fragrance.
He suddenly found himself in a cloud of all kinds of scents, fragrances and aromas all emanating from the little package. It’s as if whoever had sent it had jammed every little thing that could emit a potent scent inside and sent it. On the top was a dark cloth with something white set on top. Right away he identified it as a folded handkerchief. He picked it up and brought it to his nose. Again the scent was unmistakable. It was him, the same demon his essence was literally embedded in the cloth. He must have been carrying this on him for some time , he thought. Then a thought occurred to him, he deliberately send this to me so I would be familiar with his scent. So he must know I’m canine, considerate of him. Looking at the handkerchief he noticed that in the corner there was a small engraving in golden thread of the letters O, B and J.
He recalled noticing at the end of the massage there were the same three capital letters. These must be his initials , he thought. Demons of higher class often carried items that bore their signatures on them so others would know to whom they belonged if dropped. Of course assuming the demon was of higher class, his scent nonetheless suggested that he was.
Sesshomaru himself wasn’t one since the only thing he ever carried on him was his cloth, swords and armor, but he knew of plenty of other that did. No one would carry the handkerchief that had someone else’s initials on it, least of all send away as a care package to a person of particular interest.
O.B.J. I wonder who it could be. The letters were not familiar, he tried to recall any name that could match it but drew a blank. Deciding he’ll have time to think about it later put the handkerchief aside to commence exploring the package.
After removing the simple cloth that covered the rest of the contents, his eyes fell instantly on the bundle of dried meat that aligned the long side of the box. Removing that, he drew out a stick and without a thought or question brought it to his mouth bite off a fair chunk. It was good, not too salty and full of flavor, his lips, fangs and taste buds were pleased.
The flavor was a different stock of meat that he couldn’t quite place. He wondered if it was some kind of venison. It reminded him of the time when he was a boy and he would sneak off to the servant’s quarters at his parent’s castle to loot the storehouse for all kinds of goodies. Food that was otherwise considered low class fodder and beneath him to consume, like smoked fish and dried meat his mother always insisting in the freshest and rarest of foods for her and her son, that a stick or dry venison or dry lamb, fish, or human was to her an insult to their class stature.
He didn’t care; he could eat it, and was glad for it.
After savoring the first stick of meat he drew out a second and commenced to nibble on it as he began to take in the following contents. Like in the first package there were the familiar packages of herbs most likely for tea, apparently various assortments; Gazelle would have to explain their uses to him later. Next to those were several narrow packets bound up in paper propped up against a moderately sized scent candle that gave off a particularly pleasant aroma. Medicine of some kind, he assumed, recognizing the shape of the packets as triangular meaning they contained crucial or important ingredients such as for remedies or potions. Aside from that there was something else that was particularly unfamiliar, even a bit strange but it caught his eye. It was a doll, a small figurine clad in bight multicolored knitted clothing. It was about four inches tall and carried a pouch of folded paper on his back. In his hand was a stick of charcoal. Attached to it was a tag that read,
Hello, I am Mrya of the twin spirits, inscribe your thoughts on the paper and my sister do the rest.
Next to it was another envelope similar to the one that was bound beneath the twine that he already read. He took it and opening it read it contents.
Write to me.
That was all. Confused Sesshomaru looked back to the doll and lifted it from its slot. Write to me, what does he mean by that?
It didn’t take him long to figure it out and took one of the pieces of paper from the pouch on the figurine’s back and unfolded it. The paper was unfortunately very small, only four inches square, but was more than enough space to carry a simple message. And so placing the paper on his bed side table he took the charcoal from the doll’s hand and wrote down in the common speech the first and thought that came to mind,
how are you?
Then folded the paper back up and slipped it into the front pocket of the doll. Then placed it down on his bed side table, sat back and observed. Once set down the doll instantly it seemed to come alive. It rattled then kicked its embroidered boots together and sat down on its butt. At that point Sesshomaru noticed that the paper he had just logged into its breast pocket suddenly vanished.
He nearly flinched that it amused him, and the corner of his mouth curved upwards in what resembled a partial smile, well at least the thing woks. Now I guess I just wait and see what happens.
Already on his third stick of meat he sat back and waited for a response. To his delight, he needn’t wait long. The response came almost immediately as if the receiver on the other side was already prepared to answer.
Right away the doll began to shake and stood up the paper manifesting having returned to its breast pocket. Sesshomaru took it, and unfolding it, read its contents. It said in the same bold script…
A friend.
He stared at the paper, the word repeating in his mind, friend… a friend huh. Hm, well guess we’ll see… strange though this demon acts like he knows me. Then again, he had to laugh at himself, maybe he does.
~2~
Yomi was seated on the trunk of a fallen tree by a crystalline lake, the water glimmering from the reflection of moonlight on its subtle ripples. The myra doll still in his hand. All he had written on the paper was, ‘a friend.’ He knew it was a question that would be asked so he was already prepared with the answer.
A friend.
Is that what I am, a friend? He had to ask himself. So I’m a friend? Him well guess we’ll find out.
Returning the stick of coal to the doll’s hand he took a cloth from his coat and bound up the doll and returned it to the inner breast pocket of his robe. When he felt it rattle, pulling it back out he unwrapped it and felt the front pocket on its chest. There was another message. Delighted he took the paper unfolded it and as he did with the first message he held it up to the moonlight, focusing his senses on it. Then beneath his breath began to utter a short prayer, as if blessing the paper. When he did this the paper began to glow the script on it standing out like shadows before a blazing fire, it read,
Do I know you?
Yomi laughed, and he thought to write yeas we had met before but instead all he said was…
~3~
You will.
Sesshomaru smiled.
~4~
It was enough, Yomi returned the doll to his inn breast pocket stood up and found his way back to the road, to continue his journey west and to Westide.