Tokyo Ravens:ShortStory Reincarnation

Short Story - REINCARNATION

Harutora is a nice name. But how do you think about “spring” and “tiger”?

“Spring” is part of the wood cycle within ying, yang and the five elements. It’s direction is equivalent to the “east” and the color “green”. In that case, don’t you think it’s a good idea to apply a character of “dragon” from “Azure Dragon of the East” and name him after the ideology of the four Taoist gods?

If you say so, the woman sat on a bed as she giggled and laughed.

It’s still top-heavy as usual, she said amusingly.

Hey dear? 春は我が子のためなら、千里往って千里還ると言うでしょう？たとえ私がどこに行こうと、この子の元に帰ってくる。そんな願いを、込めたいの。

Speaking with a fickle voice, he couldn’t immediately reply. The woman, however, smiled and laughed as she saw him not able to reply.

You’re having that troubled face again.

But, I like that kind of face of yours.

…Huh?

After all, you instantly showed a troubled face, it shows your kindness is real. She said, smiling and laughing.

From her sickbed, furthermore, she was bright, beautiful and had a straightforward look into the future. Blossoming in full glory on a summer day, she looked similar to a sunflower.

And that’s how the child’s name became Harutora.

☆

"--Master."

"....."

"Master." A voice repeatedly called out and only a faint sigh leaks from Yasuzumi his mouth. He stopped writing.

"What is it this time?"

“Master Harutora looks unsettled and is crying. Please come as soon as possible.”

“What about my mother-in-law?”

“Changing clothes, she is returning to the Wakasugi house.”

Yasusumi took a deep breath out once more and placed the fountain pen on the desk. While he stood up and left the room, “It’s no time for milk yet. I have also replaced the diapers a while ago…”

“But he will not stop crying.”

“What is the cause.”

“I don’t know. But Harutora-sama is still crying.”

“………”

Yasuzumi has been appearing unaffectionate on a regular basis, but just around the temple on his forehead, his muscle twitched a little. While correcting the position of the mirror in silence, he walked down the hallway.

Yasuzumi was dressed in regular kimono. He was slender and carried an intellectual presence, although he also looked rather nervous. On the other hand, the body of the voice speaking to Yasuzumi couldn’t be seen.

It was a Shikigami.

Just now, it released its materialization and appeared. Yasuzumi ignored it and entered a room of the mansion. A small futon laid out in the middle of the straw-matted room. The baby’s face looked wry as he moved his hands and feet while crying.

“………”

Yasuzumi showed a difficult expression and then kneeled with the tops of his feet flat on the floor - sitting in seiza - before the horizontal positioned futon. With that, he motionlessly stared at the baby.

“Master.”

“…I know.”

Yasuzumi extended his hands, holding the baby in his arms. His facial expression was calm but his hand movements were somewhat “fearful” to say the least. The baby cried, although not loud cry as slobber ran at the baby’s mouth. In brazenness, the colors in Yasuzumi’s eyes weakened.

“Master. Harutora-sama doesn’t stop crying.”

“I understand such a thing without being told.”

“Please make it stop somehow.”

“What should I do?”

“Aren’t you the parent?”

“Yes, but…”

“Then, as it’s urgent, please comfort Harutora-sama.”

While holding his child, the baby appeared tedious as its mouth turned down at the corners. Since there was no other way, he checked the diaper. However, the diaper was not in a state in which it was dirty. He might’ve been hungry, so he brought a baby bottle near the baby’s mouth but instead it made him increasingly unsettled.

“About what time did my mother-in-law leave?”

“Exactly half an hour ago.”

“Then she won’t be coming back for a while…”

“Harutora-sama is still crying. Please do something one way or another quickly.”

“………”

Yasuzumi frowned. The shikigami’s devotion to its master couldn’t be helped but he was in dire need of silence for at least a bit longer.

No, instead, “You hold him.”

The materialized shikigami was greatly upset at the sudden remark.

“T-t-that sort of! I-I can’t!?”

“Well then, so you’re planning on letting Harutora cry as it is?”

“B-b-but..!?”

The shikigami’s dismay was intense. Yasuzumi sighed once more, “I’m asking you, Hishamaru.”