Kusuriuri of Kon

Its been a while since your master Ri had sent you back to your home town. Missions for him were getting longer and there was no possible way you could keep up as his assistant. You were getting injured left in right on every mission, he couldnt stand seeing you like this, always tired, always hurt by a mononoke you tried to help.

but telling you so was the most painful part, you had followed him for years, and yet now he was telling you to go back home, to that dull boring life where no one ever even visited you? it pains him like a sharp blade hitting him in his stomach to do so, but it hurt him even more seeing you fall and break to every mononoke’s whims. He and you both knew it had to change, even if both of you were reluctant to let it happen. It had to be done.

the day he told you was a sunny morning when you were organizing his medicine box. You weren’t surprised it must’ve been weighing in his head for a while now, someone as understanding as him could never miss something as simple as this.

He travelled with you until you reached your old hometown where there were nobody waiting for you and maybe just a few people that recognized you

He helped you unpack everything and said his final goodbye while kissing you on your forehead and your face was on his chest closer to his fast beating heart. Inside that old japanese house you knew you might never see him again, your adventure would have to end because what else is there left to do?

while you were lost in your thoughts, maybe for the first time ever you felt something wet drifting down your cheek, but it wasn't your tears. Your master who you’ve never once saw cried was weeping quietly at your leave. You just pushed your face deeper into his scent pretended you hadn't seen his one and only vulnerable moment in front of you. For a moment it was as though you wouldnt ever leave his arms as long as you stay quiet. But even goodbyes have an end.

you watch at your front door, as your master turned his back and turned smaller.. and smaller then disappeared completely from your sight. You couldn't stop yourself either you wanted to chase after him but you could only take a few steps before breaking down ugly-crying. With tears and snot everything as your knees bucked and you doubled over hugging yourself asking yourself why you couldn't be enough even when you’ve tried your hardest to stay by his side. But everything has a reason, like your master had said before. Your heart is filled with doubt and it was like poison that could never be sucked out or given a antidote even when someone you loved seems to have given you the cure for it.

Just like that, life dulled again like a blade, you didn't wake up to the gentle calls of your master, he wasn't grooming your hair and you weren't drawing the red markings around his eyes anymore. You made breakfast but accidentally made an extra portion for someone… whos no longer beside you.

But its not like the world would stop spinning when someone you loved suddenly disappeared from your life. That was until another mononoke had showed up in your village, you were the first to notice, a suicide in the well followed by sudden appearances of a doll holding a specific red umbrella earning its name as the Karakasa. Then people started to get possessed one by one when they get too jealous or envious of others out in the street then dried out completely like they were hollowed out from the inside out. You ran home and drew a whole bunch of talismans just in case of another mononoke attack. It was terrifying but other than protecting people and letting people hide behind you, you couldn't do anything but just pray another kusuriuri could protect the people that is left whose hearts are not tainted by envy.

one day, when you were sweeping the front yard in the early morning before pests creep in, something colorful caught the corner of your eye… It wasn’t the bright teal kimono your master wore, But they still looked like a kusuriuri. As if sensing your stare, they walked right towards you, this kusuriuri was much taller and his physique was even better than your masters! You took a step back when he walked into your yard, holding your broom tight but that weird Kusuriuri still had a smug look on their face as they leaned towards you

“Ahhh…! so you’re that assistant of a colleague of mine.” he chuckled and teased, slipping his long, slim fingers under your chin tilting your head up. Instead of laughing in response, a wave of dread washed over you, his face, was like a carbon copy of your master’s, you nearly fell, your knees felt weak just seeing him.

The kusuriuri caught you quickly lowering you slowly onto the floor so you wouldn’t fall again kneeling right beside you. While you stuttered and slipped over your words not knowing how to speak when someone who looked exactly like the person you had once loved whole-heartedly was in front of you

how could it be… everything, from the side-tied hair, to the colorful kimono, and those familiar geta sandals, everything… everything reminded you of him! The kusuriuri felt your distress, and held your chin up again to face him while he whispered into your ear, close enough for a little nibble

“Shhh… its alright, don’t stress. Call me Kon my dear. You don’t have to look at me if it makes you struggle to breathe.”