We Are Taking Down the Goddess

Origin

[Edo period – Tokyo, Japan]

A large, symmetrical house stood tall in the midst of a massive garden. Its thatched roof was quite impressive, covering more than half the size of the whole structure. Its slightly curved edges extended beyond the walls, forming an oversized cover for the veranda. These long eaves gave the house such a unique dimness and a perfect soothing atmosphere. The sliding doors were wide open, allowing fresh air and the smell of water from the nearby pond to replenish the senses.

A young woman sat on the floor in the middle of a vast room, looking at her own reflection in a small mirror she held in her hands. Her long straight and charcoal black hair reached the floor, covering her entire back like a silk blanket. Another younger girl approached the woman. She too sat on the floor and started combing the woman’s already well-kept hair.

The silence caressed their skin, like a gentle wind. Lovely birdsong came sweetly from the garden, slowly putting their mind at ease. Minutes drifted away like a ripple in a pond. Yet, each moment felt like gifted freedom; a kind of calm that is more worthy than a lengthy adventure. The young girl rolled the woman’s long hair into an elaborate bun and pinched inside a couple of golden hair ornaments. Then, she took a pure white face powder and smeared it with a broad flat brush all over the woman’s cheeks, nose, and neck. Afterward, the girl reached for a safflower rouge, took another, smaller brush, and applied it gently to the woman’s cheeks, lips, and fingernails. This expensive palette had a very rich pigment, creating that ultimate mark of refinement. After all, a fresh safflower makeup was so expensive, its worth was weight in gold. But, for the women living in this elaborate estate, it seemed to be an affordable luxury. Right after painting the artificial set of eyebrows high on the woman’s forehead, the younger girl finally spoke with a warm tone.

-        “Sister, I still can’t believe you are getting married.”

-        “Me neither, Ichika.” – Kana smiled.

-        “When father told me that samurai asked for your hand in marriage, I really didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. What am I going to do without you, now that you have to live so far away?” – the young girl’s eyes filled with tears.

Kana reached for the girl, grabbed her by the waist, and pushed her towards her chest. That tight hug immediately warmed up Ichika’s heart. She couldn’t help but sob.

-        “You know it’s our duty to marry for the sake of our family. To be honest, I haven’t met him myself and I do have my doubts. I hope he will be a caring husband and let us see each other often.” – Kana uttered.

-        “But…I will be alone, now.”

-        “Listen.” – Kana loosened her grip and looked straight into her eyes. “No matter how far we are, you will always have a special place in my heart.”

The young girl started crying even more. Kana smiled, desperately holding back her tears. She hugged Ichika, but this time tighter.

-        “Besides, Ichika, in three years’ time, you too will marry. I hope your match will bring you happiness.”

-        “I will tell father to find me a man who will be your neighbor.” – the girl puffed her cheeks.

-        “Good plan.” – Kana placed her hand over her own gorgeous red lips and smiled shyly. Her giggle rolled about the room like vibrant and heartwarming energy. “Now, enough crying. You will make me ruin my makeup.”

At that moment, a servant rushed towards the chamber, bowed, and said:

-        “Lady Nakamura, the palanquin and the guards are ready. Your father has asked that you accompany me to the gate.”

-        “Understood.”

Kana confidently answered and stood up. Then, she turned towards Ichika with a warm glare. The young girl knew that the time had come. So, she brushed her tears and pointed towards a rich bridal trousseau and a couple of Kana’s personal belongings that stood at the end of the empty room.

-        “The dowry is ready. Don’t forget to take it to father.” – Ichika mumbled, carefully masking the sadness in her voice.

-        “Yes, my lady.”

-        “Come, lady Nakamura.” – the man bowed at Kana once more and pointed towards the gate outside the estate.

-        “Oh, one more thing!”

Ichika bolted towards a nearby room while Kana and the servant watched in awe. What could she've forgotten this time?

In less than a minute, the girl came rushing back with a stunning white material. She approached Kana and placed an elaborate, traditional white veil over her head meant to hide the horns of jealousy. This pure white head-dress completed the entire look, making Kana shine brighter than the morning sun. Even the servant was enchanted by her beauty.

-        “Now, this is my greatest masterpiece!” – Ichika boasted proudly.

Kana laughed. Then, she took her sister by the hand and left the house with her for the richly decorated palanquin that waited just outside the gate. Together with her family and over a dozen guards, the bride-to-be was escorted outside her hometown to the groom’s home.  

Normally, it would take a week for them to arrive at the far-away town. But, this time, the weather was perfect, reducing their journey by half. The sun radiated perfect warmth, while the breeze swept everyone’s sweat away. The palanquin was hard to carry, so people walked slowly to match the guards’ pace.

As they were about to enter the town, the palanquin that had been jolting joyfully down the rugged road, suddenly came to a halt. The sound of guards walking stopped completely. The only thing Kana could hear from the inside were the soldiers unsheathing their weapons and their blades clashing. Ichika screamed.

Kana immediately stuck her head out of the window to see what was going on and promptly opened the small door. There were countless bandits surrounding the palanquin and her gorgeous attire immediately captured their attention. Now their eyes were fixed on Kana. Some stood on top of the nearby branches with arrows pointed and ready to shoot. Others grabbed the servants by their hair and dragged them across the road. While the rest of the thieves directly faced the guards with their dull and heavy blades.

All the outlaws wielded hachiwari – swords made to penetrate even the toughest of armor. Known for their short hook at the base, and tough surface, the weapons could easily gain leverage over any armor and pry it right open. The guards were outnumbered and outmatched.

When all the guards had fallen, a man emerged from the middle of the human barricade. He hadn’t shaved in a while. His dirty skin had suffered numerous cuts and bruises. Most likely, from the countless battles he fought not long ago. He had the muscles of a warrior, yet his face was broad and flat as if he hadn’t eaten anything in a while. The old sullied shirt he wore fit tightly around his muscular physique. Kana, Ichika, and their father stood defenseless. Terrified of what comes next.

-        “The intel was right.” – he smiled while looking at the young girls of noble heritage. “These two are precious beauties.”

-        “Hear that ladies? We are selling you for a fortune.” – some unknown bandit yelled in the distance, supporting his captain as he approached the girls.

-        “Who do you think you are? Do you have any idea whose wife you are trying to steal!? Do you want to start a war?” – the father tried to knock some sense into the man.

-        “It’s strictly business. They pay me to poke the lion and I reap the benefits.” – the leader uttered with a smirk.

-        “You are sick!!!”

-        “Well, I hear people are tired of these peaceful times, old man. It is hard to make a living like this. So, we decided to spice things up a bit. Isn’t that right, boys?”

The bandits cheered proudly.

-        “You will all die!”

In a last attempt to get them to back off, the father tried to intimidate the group. But, to no avail. They simply laughed at his futile efforts to save his children.

Then, the leader took out a small knife from under his sleeve and threw it towards the palanquin, barely missing Kana’s eye. For a moment there, Kana felt a slight relief. She was terrified that the blade would have taken her sight. But, the moment she turned around to see where the blade ended, her heart sank. Her father was on the ground and the weapon went right through his chest. There was an exit wound in his back. Ichika just stared in horror.

-        “There. Dead. Now, you two are coming with me.”

From behind Kana, came the loudest and most hysterical crying she had ever heard. The screams only stopped when Ichika needed to draw breath. But, the young girl couldn’t stop crying. Tears streamed down her cheeks like a violent hurricane and pain oozed out of her every pore.

At that moment, something clicked inside Kana’s mind. Her eyes filled with hatred and pure anger. The woman suddenly gained unfathomable strength and unyielding courage she never thought she had. She charged at the bandit leader and clawed his eyes out.

He screamed in pain.

In that single moment, she couldn’t care less if she were to die right there and then. All she wanted was to protect her sister and give her a fighting chance.

The man fumed.

-        “Get her!”

Bandits swarmed Kana grabbing her by her hands and legs. They pushed her on the ground and secured her in place, stretching her body to expose her soft, untouched skin.

-        “You slut! You will pay for that!!!” – the leader screamed.

-        “Boss, who says we can’t have some fun right now? She deserved it, didn’t she?”

One of the men that held onto Kana stared into her eyes with sheer lust. She stared back with disgust. But, that didn’t stop him from drooling all over her.

-        “No. We need her the way she is. She will fetch a better price. But, if no one comes to pay the ransom… Well, that’s a story for another time.” – the leader spat on Kana’s wedding attire. “Feel free to rough her up a bit. And get the other one too.”

The other bandits went for Ichika and pulled her by the hair. The young girl found herself staring at Kana. For a moment, their eyes met and Kana could see that mix of emotions pilling up inside the young girl’s heart. Ichika was terrified. She was sad for Kana’s sake and horrified for her sake. Although she was immature, she knew exactly what they would do to her if no one came to save them. Her mind went blank.

-        “Let. Her. Go!”

Kana exploded. Furry took ahold of her body, giving her strength one more time. As the men were ripping her silk yukata apart, she managed to kick one of the bandits that were holding her back. She somehow released herself from their tight grip and pushed the three thieves away. Then, she focused everything she had in her legs and started running towards her sister. As she reached for the girl’s hand, the ground beneath her opened. The rugged road that was once paved with rough stone had turned into quicksand. The liquefied soil made its way towards Kana’s legs and wrapped around her skin. Suddenly, the woman found herself on the floor, struggling to escape once more. But, the sand was too powerful, it was sucking her entire body too quickly.

Everyone was mortified.

-        “Kana!!!!” – the young girl finally found the courage to yell.

-        “No! No! No! Ichika!!!”

The woman desperately tried to hold onto the ground, leaving deep nail marks in the soil as she was being dragged. The bandits that captured Kana before, quickly rushed to her side to pull her out of the sand. But, it didn’t work. In a matter of seconds, her body disappeared and the ground returned to normal. As if what happened before their very eyes was just some weird lucid dream.

Everything turned black.