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"Na mu fu ka shi gi kō nyo rai"
'Seiku sama--'
"Ki myō jin jip-pō mu ge kō nyo rai"
'be very careful or-'
Seiku cursed under his breath. It's only been two days but all he could now think about was Ichinojo. No, don't get him wrong he did not get swayed by lust or anything remotely like that, that boy reminded him of his own younger brother. If Futaba was still alive he would had been of same age. And when met with another one with similar if not more sinister fate he couldn't help but worry nonstop.
Seiku left meditation room. Even if he kept brainstorming about how to get Ichinojo out of that hell hole nothing came to mind that actually might work. Not with those witches constantly on guard. Finally he decided to ask Kamatachi sama to help him. Since Kamatachi sama was not only the eldest resident here but it also seemed like he frequented that God forsaken place.
"Ah! If it's not Seiku! Done with your meditation already??"
"Ah! Yes! With your blessings I am finished with today's session"
" Good! Good!
Now that you mention you look way better now especially compared to when you came here for the first time. You looked like a walking dead. Ha! Ha! Ha!"
"Yes! It's thanks to all of your kindness I finally found peace."
"Make sure you remember that feeling so you can also guide others who have lost their paths too!"
"Um! About that, the other day, the boy I met at the nunery, it seems he was drugged and then tricked to work there. With your permission I would like to have him join here."
"Hmm! Are you sure he was not tricking you"
"Of course not! He would never!"
"Ha! Ha! Ha! You youngsters! Meet a beauty and you would believe evey nonsense they spout. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ah youth!"
"No Ichi- I mean that boy is not like that. He was from a prestigious family. He was sent on noble duty but he w-"
"SEIKU"
Hearing Kamatachi sama shout his name so hard Seiku startled then he started again
"but Kamatachi sama isn't anyone can take refuge at lord Buddha's?! Doesn't He forgives anyone who atones their sins?! Doesn't He -"
"Seiku! I am warning you. Just because you met a beautiful whore you can't bring them here. This a place for worshippers. Impure filthy whores don't belong here. Leave now before I have no choice but to send you off too!"
Seiku was speechless. He thought as long as a person had their conscience and willing to atone for their sins anyone no matter who could be forgiven. But it seemed he never knew how the real world differed from the ideal one. Without a single word he bowed his head to Kamatachi sama and left the room.
* * *. *. *. *
Now Seiku was even more determined to save Ichinojo even if it's meant to stray from the path of lord Buddha. He never knew that he could actually consider something like that but to save him he would. The only option he can thought of now was the one Ichinojo himself mentioned; biting a gold coin to fulfill one's vendetta.
Seiku sneaked into the room where daily offerings were kept before they were sorted and stored. He noticed beforehand that one of there wealthy patrons was one of today's visitors. He quietly looked for a gold coin.
'Ah! They gave us a lot. Bless you!'
And without further ado he picked one gold coin and left the room as surreptitiously as he entered.
* . *. *. *. *. *
Today Seiku again at the hell hole one more time, but that's all right, because today he came to deliver the gold coin to Ichinojo so he could bite it and then they could think of a way to find the place where they should deliver the bitten coin. Seiku took off his robes and folded them neatly. Then he waited. Footsteps could be heard. Someone had entered the room.
"Is that you Ichinojo? I'm sorry. I still don't know what to do.
Ichinojo?
Ichinojo...."
Seiku turned and choked a sob. What had they done! Those monsters! Ichinojo was gone! It's only a husk of his former self who could only react to physical stimulation. He was lost. The quiet boy who still held his pride even in such a filthy place was no more. Seiku didn't even knew when he started to sob. All he could do now was to embrace Ichinojo to make him bite that gold coin.
Seiku had not even realised when he got up, got dressed or left that hell. Someone was asking him something
"Bousama! please, the child is only three years old won't you please read a Sutra for him?"
"I can't! I have already strayed from lord Buddha's path. I am no monk"
He left the man
Seiku didn't know how long he had been wandering or where he could had been,
"Hey! are you all right?!
Hey! Come on man speak up! You look like a walking dead! Are you okay?!"
Someone was holding his shoulders and shaking him. It's a burly man with long ponytail and glasses.
"I'm sorry! I'm_"
And then everything became dark.
* . *. *. *. *. *
It's an unfamiliar room. Seiku tried sitting up but dizziness hit him so hard that he almost toppled over.
"Be careful! You have a very high fever. Any sudden movement and it will make you feel more sick"
It's that burly man from before.
"Sorry! I_"
" Hey it's okay. I'm a doctor, it's my duty!"
"Duty?!"
The word lost its meaning to Seiku. Didn't they preached it's their duty to show the way of enlightenment. To forgive. To be merciful.
Seiku let out a dry laugh then before he could realised he let out a gutteral sob.
"Ichinojo! Ichinojo! I am Sorry! I am so so sorry"
The burly man stayed right beside him and let him cry until he could no more. He kept rubbing his back gently while he kept speaking softly that everything would be better.
"No, it won't. Ichinojo, they already poisoned him so much he might already be dead."
" Hey tell me everything. You were holding this coin with so much force that it actually got bent. Who gave you this?
Who is this Ichinojo?
Tell me everything. I can't guarantee but I might be of help at least."
Theres something in that man's voice that made Seiku wanted to believe, at least one more time. So, he told the doctor everything, from their visit of nunery in guise of training to his meeting with Ichinojo to how he stole the coin when the monastery refused to help him to how he found Ichinojo completely corrupted under the influence of opium. Seiku told him everything.
"Hmm!" The doctor started contemplatively "I can't say for sure until I examine him. It may be possible to at least cure him. Though it will take time and patience. But I will only be sure after I do a thorough examination."
Seiku was at lost for words then
" Really, you mean Ichinojo can be saved. You really mean it."
" Calm down! I told you that there is a possibility but first I need to examine him."
" Then if I can bring him here you can save him"
Seiku was breathing hard. Even the slightest possibility of saving Ichinojo releaved him so much that he wanted to brought him to the doctor right away.
"Hey calm down!Ah! You are hyperventilating!!
Hey! Hey! H_"
______________
"Masaya San I can't thank you enough for agreeing to watch over this guy"
"Oh shut it! You are the one who always watch over us even if we can't pay properly. It's only natural we would do anything to repay you"
" Ah ha ha! Well then I am leaving him in your care____"
* . *. *. *. *. *
For the next few days it was another type of hell for Seiku. He was hurting everywhere and he was almost delirious from fever. Even then whenever he woke up he found the kind elderly woman at his side.
It's been a while since his fever finally subsided but he was still too weak to do much. Then one evening
" Ah! Look at you! Finally looking healthy again!
Good! Very good!"
It's the doctor.
"Ah! Doctor, it's been a while! Did you went to someplace far?!"
" Ha! Ha! No I was here all along. I came to check up on you every night but you were asleep then"
"Ah! Please forgive me!"
"It's okay! You getting better is the most important!"
" When can I able go outside?"
"It will take sometime, you need to rest."
"Sigh! Then Ichinojo__"
"Ah! about that, since you were in a critical condition I haven't told you yet"
Suddenly everything started to seem tinted with red, 'no no, don't tell me, he is, Ichinojo is already___'
"Ichinojo kun can be saved. Actually I have already started the treatment. He is now at the__
Hey! Don't cry! He is all right. He will come back. Don't worry!"
Seiku was sobbing. He never knew he could ever be this blessed! 'Oh lord Buddha! Thank you! Thank you so much! You truly are benevolent! even when I had strayed, even when I had sinned, you still forgave me! You are truly merciful. From this day onwards I will do everything in my power to be on the path that you have guided.'
"Can I go see him?"
"Of course! Wait a few days and I will take you there myself"
* . *. *. *. *. *
Seiku wouldn't forget the day he saw Ichinojo once again as long as he lived. Ichinojo looked much better, even his complexion looked healthier.
"It's still hard for him to do things on his own that's why I am keeping him in this temporary shed. Once his condition improves a bit I will transfer him to a place near my chamber"
"Sensei, If it's all right with you, may I have the opportunity to take care of Ichinojo and others?"
Teppa sama gave him a broad smile that could dull the sun "of course! Do as you wish!"