[Comprehensive] living to death

Wushan Sending Fire is held on August 8 every year, and it may be the most famous event in Kyoto.On a clear night, looking at the "big" characters lit up on the mountain, and being in the sea of ​​bustling lights and food aromas, it sounds so joyful and fascinating.The only minor annoyance is that there are too many tourists.Beginning in the afternoon, picnic mats were laid out beside the Kamo River, and waves of people piled up on the river bank, and the bridge was filled with crowds of people, and it was overwhelming.

A group of light brown fur balls passed through the crowd quickly. The ring-shaped tail was responsible for balancing and controlling the direction. The bulging body was carried on four short legs. At first glance, it looked like a ball of rolling fur balls.Fuqiu is very flexible and has experienced strong winds and waves, but there are too many people tonight, Fuqiu is careless for a while, and can't stop the car when making a sharp turn. It is about to send itself under human leather shoes and become a whining Poor tanuki in a stampede.

The furball stared in horror at the soles of the shoes approaching by the humans, and the fur all over its body exploded.

"Isn't this the raccoon dumpling from Xia Ya's family?"

One hand grabbed the nape of the hairball and lifted him up in the air.Fuqiu struggled for a while, then felt a chill coming from behind, immediately lowered her limbs obediently, smiled flatteringly at the woman in front of her, and said obediently: "Yes, it is Saburo Shimokamoya. Good evening, Master Mingyue , Lord Ibaraki."

He glanced behind him quietly, only seeing a little shadow.Shadows are also scary!The civet cat curled its tail nervously.

As soon as Ibaraki let go, Tanuki Qiu immediately jumped aside, and under the cover of the two, he transformed into a human youth. "Ah, I'm saved." The round-faced young man with the appearance of a college student was terrified, "I didn't expect this year's Obon Festival to be so popular among guests."

"This is also the progress of the times." Mingyue smiled.

She is wearing a white T-shirt and jeans today, with royal blue trim on the waist, which is fresh and elegant with a touch of chic.Yasaburo noticed that there was also a sapphire blue hair ornament on her hair, which adorned her delicate and beautiful face very well, and she seemed to like it very much, so he stroked it lightly from time to time.Ibaraki Doji next to her was still wearing the old-fashioned dark gray kimono, and the spacious material rustled in the night wind.Seeing Yasaburo in a daze, the white-haired monster glanced over, and the dark golden eyes were even more terrifying in the night, making Tanuki immediately bow his head with a dry smile.

"We're going to Shimogamo Shrine." Mingyue said, "Yasaburo, how are you getting ready?"

Yasaburo walked in front, consciously leading the way.Because of Ibaraki's presence, the crowd automatically left a gap for them.

"My mother has prepared chirashi sushi rice and delicious miso soup." He smiled, "and sweet red jade port wine. My fiancée also brought two boxes of fake Denki brandy. The two adults You can have a taste."

Pseudo-electric brandy is also wine, and it is an excellent wine. The production is very small, and a bottle is hard to find.However, it just so happened that the production factory of the fake electric brand is the property of Yasaburo's fiancée's family.It is interesting that a kind of wine that is highly praised among humans should come from civet cats.

"Oh, I've heard of that, it seems delicious?" Mingyue thought thoughtfully, "Ibaraki, let's have a drink together later."

"What kind of good wine can a raccoon make?" Ibaraki's disapproving air hadn't been fully raised before he was pinched by his sweetheart.His expression changed abruptly, and he raised his chin and said, "Ha... I'll just try it hard."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Mingyue with an anticipation of "seeking praise".His hair was combed into a high ponytail by Mingyue, and he wore the same navy blue headband, with only a few strands of hair hanging on his face, making him look extraordinarily young, especially when he looked at her so enthusiastically, he really looked like a heroic figure A radiant youth—just a little bit of secondary school.Mingyue embraced his head, smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Ibaraki laughed contentedly, like a big child being fed sugar.Mingyue thought, why is he so easy to be happy?She kissed him again.

On the night of the Obon, there are tourists lingering outside the Shimogamo Shrine, and then walking inside, the surroundings become silent.Looking back, the vermilion gate has the texture of a picture in the dim light, darker, less graceful, but more quaint.

In the dance hall, there are several people waiting, needless to say, they are all disguised in the human form of the raccoons.The woman with long red hair has a delicate face, she is Yasaburo's mother, she is the kind of gentle type who can be known as a good wife and mother just by looking at her eyes.The young man on the side is tall and thin, wearing a well-proportioned kimono, with a serious expression, he is undoubtedly the elder brother Yaichiro.The elementary school student wearing goggles was Yashiro who was shivering in Yasaburo's arms last time.besides……

A green frog jumped onto Yasaburo's shoulder.

"This is the second brother, Shimoyajiro."

"Shimogamoya Jiro sends you my greetings."

People who see Mingyue for the first time will inevitably be in a daze, and the civet cats are no exception.But the minds of animals are mostly simpler than that of humans, and admiration is just admiration, and yearning is just yearning, and no more desires will arise from it.The red-haired mother took a cautious look at Ibaraki, out of animal intuition, she only smiled cautiously and talked to Mingyue.

"I'm really sorry, Master Mingyue." The mother's voice was warm and soothing, "I caused you a lot of trouble before, and this time I have to borrow a cool boat again."

"It doesn't matter, I borrowed it too. Besides, if it wasn't for the invitation from Xiaya's family, I would never have thought that I would be able to watch the grand event in the sky." Mingyue looked around, "This place is a little smaller, go to the forest!"

How big does a boat need to be to be released in the forest?When the huge sail is raised in the night, it seems that there is also the sound of the sea tide in the distant time and space accompanied by the high-spirited bow of the ship.The long oars are lined up and hang quietly over the sides of the hull.

"This is..." Yasaburo was stunned, "Could it be the ship that sent the Tang envoy?"

"Well, I borrowed it from a fashionable old man with a lot of money. Does Yasaburo know him?"

"The civet cats in Nara have one, and we thought about borrowing it." Yasaburo didn't say why it didn't work, but only breathed in longingly, "It's really impressive."

The youngest, Yashiro, was very afraid of Ibaraki. He hid timidly beside his mother and elder brother, but when he saw the boat, his eyes lit up immediately, and he even summoned up the courage to ask, "Master Mingyue, can I get on the boat?" Do you want to look around? I have always wanted to study the ship that sent the Tang envoy..."

Before Mingyue could make a sound, she saw the young civet cat's tail was exposed with a "bang" in fear because of exhaustion of courage.She held back her laughter, not to put more pressure on the little raccoon, and Wen Sheng agreed to his request.

The little raccoon became elated and gave a small cheer.

Mingyue tilted her head.She suddenly had an idea.When everyone boarded the boat and the banquet was set, the ancient sailboat set off with the wind and swam in the sea of ​​sky, she mysteriously pulled Ibaraki aside.

"I was just thinking..."

"what?"

"Ibaraki-chan, do you have any thoughts about children?"

Ibaraki, who is like a big kid who is hopelessly out of middle school, blinks his eyes and looks confused.He thought for a while, thinking he understood what his sweetheart meant, and smiled charmingly again: "Child? Hahaha, don't worry, Mingyue, I only have thoughts about you..."

"No, no, if you dare to think about that kind of child, I'll kill you first, okay?" Mingyue pressed his big face with a palm.

Ibaraki didn't struggle, rubbed his face against her palm, and said in a muffled voice, "Then what are you talking about?"

Mingyue moved her hand away.

"If you were a monster," she asked, "would you want a child of your own?"

"Oh! Pass on the bloodline? Ha, those monsters transformed from animals have such boring ideas. A powerful big monster like me is only fascinated by powerful power, and has no interest in such weak and boring things!" Yang Yang Ibaraki After finishing her complacency, she added, "However, Mingyue, believe me, I'm only obsessed with you now!"

His eyes were shining, and he obviously felt that he had given the perfect answer, so he waited for his sweetheart to praise him.Mingyue couldn't help but laugh, and couldn't bear to let him down, so she kissed him and said: "I know, I know, I am also obsessed with you, but I like you!"

"Well, I originally thought, if you like children, maybe I can think of a way, after all, children are really cute." Mingyue touched her chin, feeling a little regretful, "My brother was so cute when he was young!"

"You have a younger brother?"

"Well, I will take you to meet my family and friends in the future."

Yasaburo was calling them, saying that the fire on Mount Ruyi was about to be lit.When Mingyue and the others walked to the side of the boat, they saw a sudden fire on the shadowy mountain peak; the orange fire was like a waterfall, and the word "big" appeared in a blink of an eye, and the crowd on the ground burst into cheers.Mingyue looked down and saw the flashy lights of the city, reflecting the clouds into the color of the lights.She suddenly remembered that she once looked down from Lingyun Mountain, and could only see the vast sea of ​​clouds, and the people on the ground could only see the illusory sea surging in the sea of ​​clouds, but could not see kingship, let alone God.

"I like it like this," Mingyue said, "Everyone is having fun together. As expected, I still think... that this kind of world can survive, it's really great."

Izuku's mouth twitched.He couldn't help thinking about the past, and she did the same, saying wistfully that she liked these things, and finally threw herself into the black river.At this moment, he felt the venom of hatred burning through the bottom of his heart, almost making him show his fangs, and all these things that would bring her danger—love is also a dangerous temptation—all things Bite into pieces.Anyway, she also said that she likes him and loves him, so she only lives for him, and he will definitely take care of her...

But... the light will illuminate the clouds, and it will illuminate her eyes.When she smiled, her eyes were shining, her face was beautiful, her long fluttering hair was also beautiful, and the sapphire blue hair ornament adorning her hair was also beautiful, and the crystals inlaid on it were still shining.She said, "Look, Ibaraki, the lights are so beautiful tonight."

The night wind blows, cool and pleasant.He suddenly calmed down.

Humans or monsters... If all life can smile when it gets what it loves, then it must also feel sad and disgusted when it loses it.At that time, will she also lose such a smile?

That's it... for now.

"Does it look good? Since you said it, let me admit it." Ibaraki held the side of the boat, feeling the wind blowing his long hair and clothes swaying, "Mingyue, just now when you mentioned children, it was you who wanted to Want to have a child of your own?"

"Cough... Ibaraki-chan, you have become sharper. Not now, but I just feel... sometime in the future, there will be a child who will call me 'Mom' and you 'Dad'. This feeling is not bad." Ming Yuetuo Cheep Yuan Wang, "However, can I really take care of a child? I'm not sure. Maybe it's just an impulse to see other people's children are cute. Ask yourself, I'm not ready to be a mother at all. .”

She went to the other side of the deck, brought a bottle of fake Denki brandy from the banquet, poured a glass for Ibaraki, and served a glass for herself.The golden wine is cold and clear, filled with the fragrance and sweetness of flowers and fruits.Mingyue took a sip and narrowed her eyes happily.

"and also……"

The exhaled white air made the cup wall foggy, and through the misty glass cup, what Mingyue saw was also a hazy stream of light.Influenced by the beauty and wine, she wanted to smile more and share more joy with him.So she raised her head and drank all the wine in the glass, gulped it down, and then in the floating feeling of drunkenness, she held his face with a smile and pulled him over, or she threw herself into his arms , Kiss him on tiptoe.

"...and it's not just my child," she whispered happily. "It's 'our child', you fool, because it's with you that you think that way."

Hope for a new life to be born, first of all because of love, and then expect from love.

I don't know if he understands or not.

But even if she doesn't understand now, in their long future, she will slowly tell him by his side what human love and her love really are.And, those more questions about life, those things that she doesn't understand, they will experience together and try to answer together.Some of the answers are about words, and some are about what's behind them.

"Then, whenever you want, Mingyue, we want a... child." Ibaraki hugged her, hesitated, and said the word very unskillfully, "If you like, you can."

Mingyue hugged him back hard, then looked up at the sky. "Ibaraki, look over there." She said, "Tonight is the first quarter moon."

That string of clear moonlight has traveled through countless worlds from ancient times to the present, and it is so beautiful everywhere.Time will flow, and old people will be separated, but some beauty will not change, not only the moonlight, but also the deeper things represented by the moonlight.She wanted to know more about those things before her long journey came to its true end.

Be with the ones you love.Well, the same goes for the youkai I love.

What kind of things will you meet in the future, and what kind of scenery will you see?There must be many good experiences, and there must be bad ones.But no matter what, it is a life to be taken seriously.

"Ibaraki, the moonlight is so beautiful."

Spoiler: their lives