Yuki and Ten-chan

 

Part One

Up in the mountains of Japan, when kami still walked the earth, there lived an older couple who was tasked with tending the forest, and particularly, a majestic sacred cedar called Tengoku e no kaidan, the Stairway to Heaven.  They were devoted to their duty and after a time, they were rewarded with the birth of a daughter.  They named her Yuki, which means ‘snow’ as she arrived in the December winter.

Yuki was a happy child and as she grew, she fell in love with the forest that she helped care for alongside her parents.  She would spend days beneath the sacred tree which she teasingly named Ten-chan, or Little Heaven.  Sadly, time and work took their toll and her elderly parents passed away, leaving Yuki broken and alone.  So devastated by the loss of her parents, she stopped eating, growing thinner and weaker until she slipped away. 

It is said that her spirit became Sukima-onna, a girl who lives in the gaps of buildings, and indeed, when people would walk by the hut in the woods, you could hear her crying from the cracks of the home as the winds blew through.

 

Part Two

Many years later, a young man, a woodcutter by the name of Haru, was making his way through the forest.  An unexpected storm swept through the mountains, swirling snow all around him.  The silhouette of a small building appeared through the falling flakes, and Haru battled his way to the door, falling inside.  The blizzard was fierce, and Haru shivered in the cold.  He managed to get a small fire going; its pitiful heat provided a little bit of comfort.  What was more unpleasant, however, was the incessant wailing of the wind through the gaps in the walls.  He fell into a troubled sleep, dozing off to visions of a young woman watching him from the space between the wall and dresser.

When the morning broke, Haru braved the storm in search of more wood to feed the hut’s meager fire.  He stumbled upon a clearing whose center was dominated by a magnificent cedar.  “It will supply me with countless hours of firewood!” he thought.  But as he raised his axe, he was overcome with the majesty and beauty of the tree.  He lowered his axe and instead, in the blinding snow, he searched the ground for firewood for the night.

Later, when darkness fell and Haru had fallen asleep, a small glowing form made its way through the blizzard and slipped into the hut bearing a bundle of small sticks.  It was a Kodama, a forest spirit who honored Haru’s sparing of the sacred tree.  The sprite carried its gift; sticks tied with braided strips of red bark from the cedar.  It was kindling for the fire, and more wood followed, carried by a different Kodama.  Soon, there was a small parade of forest sprites who gifted pieces of wood to the thoughtful woodcutter who had saved their home.  They all smiled happily and tittered amongst themselves as the neat pile of wood continued to grow. 

Suddenly, the storm shook the hut, and a sad cry from Sukima-onna floated through the room.  The curious Kodama peered into the gap between the furniture and wall and recognized their former caretaker imprisoned in the gap.  They talked amongst themselves until, after a moment, they one by one inserted themselves into the crack.  The narrow space spread further and further apart until finally, the house freed its prisoner.  There was a raspy scrape as the dresser moved against the floor, and the young woman tumbled from the gap.

Haru woke with a start, and he stared at the confused girl sprawled on the floor.  Long black hair framed her face, her skin was pale, almost white.  She fearfully peered up at Haru, shivering from the cold.  Without hesitation, Haru sprang from his bed and threw a blanket over her.  “You poor girl!  You must be freezing!”  He held her for a few moments to warm her, rubbing her arms, then said, “Allow me to prepare a hot stew for you.”  He turned to stoke the fire, but stopped, startled by the neat stack of wood in the hut.  He hesitated, momentarily puzzled, then hurried to care for the shivering stranger sitting on the floor.

It took only minutes for him to prepare the meal, and he placed it carefully in front of her.  The steaming bowl warmed her hands as she wrapped them around his offering.  But as she leaned over to take a bite, her long hair threatened to spill into her stew.  “Just a moment,” he cautioned and looked around before spying the woven bark tied around the kindling.  He pulled it off and carefully wrapped the red cord around the young woman’s hair to tie it back.  “Now, please enjoy your meal,” he offered.

Her eyes were grateful, and Haru watched as color returned to her cheeks as she ate.  When she finished, she looked at him thankfully and asked, “I have been trapped in the betweenness of worlds.  How is it that I am here?”  There was a soft giggle from the outskirts of the firelight, and there, the shimmering forms of the Kodama stood in the shadows.  Yuki’s eyes grew wide with joy, her hand flying to her mouth, “Ten-chan?”  She spun around to address Haru, “I MUST go to see Ten-chan!”

She threw open the door of the hut, and the swirling snow paused, catching its breath.  Yuki raised her hands, parting the night, and the Kodama flickered brighter, bounding happily out into the drifts.  They lit a path through the woods, showing Yuki and Haru the way to the majestic cedar.  When they arrived in the clearing, the young woman stepped up to the tree, gently placing her hand on the trunk.  She turned to Haru and murmured, “This is Tengoku e no kaidan, the Stairway to Heaven, my childhood friend.”

Yuki untied the red cord from around her hair and fastened it around the trunk.  Leaning her forehead against the tree, she whispered, “A Shimenawa for you, Ten-chan.”  The sacred rope began to glow, and the young woman’s form began to shimmer.  As the Kodama quietly turned into balls of light, she smiled, joining them as they slowly floated upward into the branches.

Haru called out to the departing spirit, “Ten-chan will be protected; we will remember!” 

 

Deep in the forests of Japan, there lives an ancient red cedar, and every December, gifts tied with red cord are left beneath its branches that are decorated with softly glowing lights.

The Twelve Bitches: The Road Not Taken: Epilogue and Afterwords

 

Epilogue

“Exchange.”

            “Quebec-Romeo-Foxtrot, 0-1-0”

“Verified.  Authenticate.”

            “Foxtrot, Alpha, Sierra, Tango.”

“Verified.  Report.”

            “Three friendlies plus one civilian, A Plus.  Twenty, two zero, tangos KIA.”

“Nice save, 0-1-0.”

            “Negative, Exchange.  The situation was closed by the time we arrived.”

There was a long pause.  “0-1-0, verify the situation was closed upon your arrival?”

            “Affirmative.”

“0-1-0, are you saying three teachers-”

            “Negative.  TWO teachers, one student.”

There was a longer pause this time.  “Acknowledge two teachers, one student closed.”

            “Affirmative.”

“Twenty, two zero, tangos KIA…”

            “We’re going to need a lot of cleaners…an Engineered solution and a press release.”

There was a deep sigh.  “Cleaners, Engineered solution, press release.  Anything else?”

            “Negative.  End call.”

“End call.”

 

 

Later that day, the press reported that a mysterious explosion in West Texas was traced to a remote militia camp with ties to the white supremacist movement.  Twenty militia members were killed in an explosion in their armory.

 

  

Afterwords

The morning air was cool and calm.  Two girls sat quietly in the courtyard, the younger girl leaning against the other.  “What happens now,” Rachel asked quietly.

Emma smiled, “Have you ridden in a helicopter before?  These people will take care of you and fly you home.”  She put her arm around Rachel and gave her a quick squeeze.  “What did you learn?”

Rachel’s eyes grew large, and she ticked off on her fingers, “Be careful on the internet.  Don’t get into dangerous situations.  If something happens, no one has to give me permission to defend myself, be a badass.  I have power in my house.”  She looked carefully at Emma and intoned, “Kore ga watashinoiedesu.” 

“Rachel?”  Miss Lean called from across the courtyard, and the two girls got up from the bench.  “It’s time to go.”

Rachel took a couple of steps, then ran back to wrap Emma in a tight hug.  “Kore ga watashinoiedesu, Emma.  You’re welcome in my house anytime.”  She gave another squeeze and ran to the waiting helicopter.

The Twelve Bitches: The Road Not Taken: Chapter 10

 

The girls barged through the door and slammed it shut behind them.  Emma threw the bolt to lock it, then leaned heavily against the door.  The false dawn was beginning to sift through the windows, highlighting her tired face.  She put a comforting hand on Rachel’s shoulder, “We should be okay in here.”  No sooner had the words left her mouth than the sounds of gunfire erupted from the far end of the building.  Someone was shooting their way through the other door.

“Can’t a person catch a break?”  Exasperated, Emma nudged Rachel to the stairs.  “Top of the stairs, first door on the left,” she whispered.  “That’s my room, I’ll be right behind you.”  She watched as the younger girl moved up the stairs, then went to the com panel by the door.  “Cerberus, turn off the lights in the Residence please.” 

The lights flickered off, and the calm voice intoned, “There are four intruders in the Residence.”

Her eyes darted down the hallway.  “Oh great…”

 

She met Rachel right inside her door.  “We got to get you to a secure room.”  Emma reached into her closet and pulled out a tactical vest.  “There’s one under the other set of stairs,” she whispered as she slipped into the vest.  “But there’s some people in the way.”  Her throwing knives came out next, and she started slapping them onto the vest. 

Rachel watched, dumbfounded.  “Why don’t they fall off?  How do they stay in place?”

“Hmm?” Emma looked puzzled for a moment and glanced down at her vest.  “Oh…Magnets.”   She froze as she heard footsteps outside her door.  “Quick!  Get in the closet,” she hissed.  Rachel melted into the closet and closed it just as the bedroom door creaked open.

The barrel of a long gun pushed into the room as the door slowly swung open.  Emma, hiding behind the coat rack in the corner, watched as a shadowy figure poked its head into the room.  It scanned the room, then paused, pointing the rifle at the closet.  The intruder took a step into the room and reached for the door.  At that moment, Emma leapt from her hiding place, a knife in each hand.

From inside the closet, Rachel heard the soft thump of something hitting the floor.  She held her breath, her phone clutched in her hand, ready to defend herself.  There was a tap on the door, then a whisper.  “Rachel?  It’s me.”  Relieved, she opened the door to find Emma offering her hand.  “Don’t trip.”  There was something on the floor covered by a blanket in front of the closet.  A dark stain was slowly spreading under the material.

“Hey, look at me.”  Emma’s voice cut through Rachel’s rising panic.  “Look at me,” she repeated, “We’re okay.”  She gently touched Rachel’s cheek and turned her face to look into her eyes.  “We’re going to leave this room, turn right and go down the hallway to the other stairwell.  There’s a secure room under the stairs.”  Checking her resolve, Emma asked, “Are you ready?”

Rachel’s voice was shaky, but her gaze was steady.  “I’m ready.”

“Okay, follow me.  Let’s go.”  The two girls stepped over the body and exited the room.  As they made their way to the stairs, Emma spotted someone peeking from behind the corner.  She whipped out a knife and threw it down the hallway, watching it curve around the wall.  A dark form fell into the passageway, the knife handle protruding from the victim’s eye.  Emma ran toward the intruder, “Two in the body, one in the head.  Two in the body, one in the head.”  She pounced on the man, driving two knives into the quivering figure.  Footsteps were racing up the stairs.  “Kore ga watashinoiedesu!” she screamed, and two more knives found their mark.

An eerie stillness descended on the hallway, and Emma leaned against the wall, catching her breath.  She turned towarrd Rachel and motioned her close, “We’re almost there-”

At the other end of the corridor, Bobby was dragging Rachel forward.  “You shoulda just given her back…”

Emma’s shoulders dropped in resignation.  “Rachel,” she sighed quietly, “what’s the first thing you learned?”

Her protégé’s eyes grew wide, then, “NOOOOO!”  She screamed and drove her cell phone into Bobby’s forearm, breaking his grip.  She ran to Emma who grabbed her and shielded her from the attacker’s furious gaze.  Keeping her focus on Bobby, Emma murmured to Rachel, “Under the stairs, push on the wall, lock the door behind you.  Go.”  She felt a quick squeeze of her hand, and then she was gone.

“I told you to leave her,” Emma shouted, “You shoulda listened.”  Bobby raised his rifle; Emma flung a knife toward his head, nicking his ear.  Throwing herself down the staircase, she muttered, “Come on, follow me you bastard.”  There was the satisfying sound of boots crashing down the stairway as she dashed from the Residence, followed by the sound of bullets whipping past her as she wove back and forth across the courtyard towards the dojo.

She crashed through the double doors and spun around, backing up as Bobby burst into the gym.  He was cursing and working the bolt on his rifle, then thew it aside in disgust.  His eyes fell upon the swords on the rack near the door, and with a grin, snatched one off the wall.  “You cut me, you bitch.  Now I’m going to cut you back.”

Emma backed away, her hands behind her, searching for something, anything.  Her hands brushed against the wall; a smooth handle of a bokken settled in her grip. 

He laughed as she whipped the bokken in front of her; her hands shaking, the tip of the wooden practice sword wavering.  He grinned and slowly drew the katana to meet the quivering bokken.  Suddenly, he slapped it aside with the flat side of his sword then watched as it flew off to the side, shattering one of the dojo’s mirrors.

He turned to look back at Emma, feeling a bit puzzled.  She was standing in front of him still, but there was a knife in her hand that was stained with blood.  He started to say something to her, but the words wouldn’t come, and the room was starting to spin.  He toppled to the floor, too late to realize his mistake.

She took a deep, ragged breath and knelt next to the sprawled body of her enemy.  Emma shook her head. “A weapon can hurt you,” she admonished, “but it is the person who will kill you.”

 

Miss Lena was racing to the Residence when Cerberus proclaimed, “We’re clear.  All buildings are secure.  All intruders are neutralized.” 

“Casualties?  Is everyone okay?” asked the house mother, her voice tinged with worry.

“Twenty enemy casualties,” the computer intoned.  “Zero friendly casualties.”

Miss Lena sighed with relief.  “Cerberus, locate Emma please.”

“Miss Couteau is in the dojo.”

When the house mother made her way into the training room, she found Emma sitting quietly on the floor, a body crumpled next to her.  She stopped, carefully studying the young girl’s face.  “Are we good?” she asked quietly.

Emma took a deep breath.  “We’re good.”

 

The sound of helicopters arriving greeted the dawn.