Page 56 of Water Moon

Chapter Fifty-six

A Gathering of Cranes

Soft tapping noises, like raindrops hitting the ground, filled the air. The rain, Keishin thought, had finally decided to show up. He applauded its timing. It could wash away the blood from the field when the Shiikuin were done with him. He waited to get drenched. A small paper crane hit him on the nose. Another struck him on the left shoulder. Keishin glanced up. Origami cranes of every color circled above him like a storm cloud and fell like rain over the field. “What in the world…”

The shrieks of the Shiikuin grew louder.

Hana picked up a crane from the ground. “This is Haruto’s work.”

“What are the cranes doing here? Why did he send them?”

The carpet of cranes stirred over the wildflowers. They flapped their wings and lifted off the ground. They swarmed Hana and Keishin, whipping up the wind. Keishin could see nothing through the blur of paper wings. He took comfort in knowing that the thick curtain of cranes worked both ways. The Shiikuin could not hunt what they could not see.

Hana pointed to the ground. “Look.”

Keishin looked down. His feet hovered an inch over the tallest wildflower. The siege of cranes thickened, sweeping Hana and Keishin up to the sky.

—

It took a while for Keishin to get used to drifting through the night on a cloud of paper cranes. The cranes bobbed and shifted beneath him, taking turns carrying his and Hana’s weight. He imagined that flying beneath Hana was more difficult. Her burden was heavier than his. He had not left his parents at the mercy of the Shiikuin. “I’m sorry about your parents.”

“They were together in the end. Like they wanted.”

“They could still be alive.”

Hana shook her head. “I need to believe that they are not. It is easier to put grief on hold than to sit still. If I allowed myself to think that they were still alive, I would jump off these cranes, run back through the tunnels, and try to save them. Believing that they are gone allows me to tell myself that I will grieve them when you are safe.”

“Hana…”

“My parents made their choice, and I made mine. They chose each other, and I chose to finally do the right thing.”

—

A paper house built on a sharp cliff came into view as the cranes descended. The moon cast a pale glow over its crisp white paper roof and walls. “Why are they bringing us to Haruto’s home?” Keishin said. “Isn’t Haruto supposed to be hiding at his mother’s house?”

“Maybe he thinks that the Shiikuin believe that we would never dare to come back here.”

The cranes hovered over the ground, allowing Keishin and Hana to hop off their backs. They took flight and scattered over the cliff.

“I wonder how Haruto made all of those cranes,” Keishin said. “His hands couldn’t have healed that fast.”

“There is only one way that could have restored his hands that quickly, but I am hoping that he was not foolish enough to try it.”

“What way?”

“The healing stall at the Night Market. Their prices…are too high.”

—

Haruto stood outside his home and waved at Hana with perfectly healed hands. “How was the ride?”

Hana stared at his hands. “Please tell me that you did not go to the—”

“I did and it is done,” Haruto said.

“You fool.” Hana gritted her teeth. “What payment did they ask for?”

Haruto folded his arms over his chest. “I imagined this reunion was going to begin with you saying, ‘Thank you for saving our lives,’ and me responding, ‘You’re welcome.’?”

“Thank you for rescuing us, Haruto,” Keishin said. “I mean it.”

“You are welcome, Keishin.” Haruto turned to Hana. “See? Was that not a lot more pleasant?”

“Tell me what you paid for your hands,” Hana demanded.

“Whatever I paid for them is my business, not yours.” He plucked a piece of paper from his sleeve and threw it in the air. He flicked his hand its way. The paper folded into a butterfly in midair. “I was even able to negotiate for a few improvements.”

“Haruto—”

“Enough, Hana. We should go inside.” A crane flew over and perched on his shoulder. “The cranes have told me that the Shiikuin are still hunting you down.”

—

Haruto sat with steepled fingers as Keishin and Hana filled him in on what had happened at the tunnels. “And your father?” he said, struggling to keep his voice even. “What happened to him?”

Hana swallowed back tears. “He’s—”

“He held back the Shiikuin so that we could escape,” Keishin said. “We don’t know what happened after we left.”

“Then he could still be alive.” Haruto looked at Hana hopefully.

Hana lowered her eyes.

“That is a possibility,” Keishin said.

“We have answered your questions,” Hana said. “Now you must answer mine.”

“I told you, what I paid for my hands is not your concern.”

“Then tell me how you knew where to find us.”

Haruto set his palms on the table. “I heard the oddest thing when I went to the Night Market to heal my hands…whispers about a man from the other world.”

“You followed the rumor,” Keishin said.

“My cranes did. The rumor was too fast for me, and I gave up any hope of catching a train. I sent my cranes to track you down. I had a feeling that the rumor you rode was only a one-way trip.”

“You saved our lives,” Hana said. “Thank you.”

“Finally. Some gratitude.”

Hana managed a hint of a smile. “Enjoy it.”

“What do you plan to do next?” Haruto said.

“I am going to make sure that Keishin returns home.”

“And after that? The Shiikuin will not let your crimes go unpunished.”

“I have not thought that far yet.” Hana dug her hands in her pockets. Her fingers brushed against a cold orb. Hana pulled it out and wiped her mother’s blood off of it with her sleeve.

“A kioku pearl.” Haruto eyed the ocean inside the gem. “Freshly picked. Whose is it?”

“My mother’s. She gave it to me before we escaped. She said that it would show me the truth.”

“The truth?” Haruto leaned forward. “About what?”

Hana set the pearl in the middle of the table. It began to spin and grow bright, churning the ocean inside it. Rising waves cast shadows over the room’s paper walls. The shadows morphed, weaving a story from darkness and light.