Chapter Fifteen: A Warm Family Meal:

Kayako and I had seven good years together. I didn’t trick her into marrying me as everyone says I did. I did tell a little white lie, but I didn’t trick her. I really did love her. Not as much as Bayu, but I still had feelings for her. She was very bright for a human. We have quite interesting conversations. The first time I went to her home was when the rain had lightened. By then, I was getting hungry. (Keeping a human form is so much work. They have needs to be met. If I leave myself to starve or get hurt too bad, I will revert back to my true form.) Kayako opened the door in front of me.

“Please excuse my home,” she said. “I barely get any guests around.” She let go into the house first. Kayako closed the door behind us. Inside was dark and felt so small. I thought back to the time I was first exiled. Pitch black with only the drops of water to fall into my mouth. My eyes shifted to my left when I heard a match being struck. A slow glow of light came from a single candle. I then got a better look at the house.

There were no windows except for the one in the very back. There were only two rooms in this tiny house. Tatami mats covered the dirt floor. A small table and a stove sat in the corners. Kayako walked over to the stove. I just stood, blinking.

“This is your house?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said. “All of it.”

“Why do you live out here?”

“That’s what happened when you are cursed.” Kayako lit up the stove. “What would you like to eat? Dandelion stew, rice porridge, dandelion stew, rice, or dandelion stew?” I raised my eyebrow.

“Dandelion stew?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said.

“You actually eat dandelions?” I asked.

“Yes, I live off the land. That is what I have to do to survive.” She sounded so sad. I could feel the pain in her heart. I pressed my lips together.

“I would like to try it,” I said. “It sounds rather unique.”

“Unique?” she asked.

“I mean it sounds good,” I said.

“Okay,” she said. I took a seat at the low table. Kayako get right to work with cooking. I had the power to make her life better. I could take her back to Hell and make her the queen. I could remove the curse off of her. But why didn’t I do it? Something inside of me told me that it wouldn’t authentic. She didn’t seem happy with her life now, but I didn’t think that I could make her happy just the same.

“How long have you been ‘cursed’ like this?” I asked.

“Since born,” Kayako said with her back turned.

“How is that even possible?” I asked.

“It was the law of the land. My parents violated when they started fell in love. My mother’s parents came from different tribes and broke the same taboo as well. She ended up banished to a high mountain after birth.” Kayako looked over her shoulder.

“Are you familiar with the Sun Girl legend?” she asked.

“Why yes,” I said. “Are you saying that you are…?”

“I am descended from her,” Kayako said. This time, she turned to me. “I am isolated to keep the village from being cursed.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” I said.

“That’s just how it is,” she said. Kayako went back to cooking stew for us. I lay back on the tatami mats. The smell of cooking filled the house. Moments later, I looked up to see a bowl sitting in front of me. Kayako set down a wooden spoon next to my bowl. I sat up and looked inside. I could barely see anything in the thick dark green broth. There was some little pieces mixed in. She sat down in front of me with her own bowl.

“Time to eat,” she said. Kayako picked up her spoon and started to eat. I shrugged and picked up my spoon. The first taste danced on my tongue. How can something this good exist on Earth? This stew was so simple, but the taste made my mouth want to pretty. I noticed Kayako’s eyes on me. She seemed to be waiting for my response. I put down my spoon and smiled.

“This is so good!” I said. Kayako smiled. I took another bite of the stew.

“What’s in it?” I asked. She tapped the side of her nose.

“It’s a secret,” she said. I pouted as I kept eating. Something about her in the glowing candle light made her look that much more beautiful. I lowered my spoon.

“May I please stay the night?” I asked. She gave me a blank stare.

“What?” she asked. I leaned forward with a cat-like smile on my face.

“You just seem so interesting,” I said. “I just want to get to know you more.” She raised her eyebrow.

“Why would you want to do that?” she asked. I reached out pushed her hair away from her cheek.

“Does there have to be a reason?” I asked. Her cheeks turned bright red as I smirked.