007. Ignore them both and keep looking for Ushi.

Natsumi sure can be a bitch, but at least her fury was directed at someone else for once. I felt bad for Chizu, but turned and walked away so as to not get involved. I resumed my search for Ushi, focusing on the missing animal.

My efforts were fruitless however because after hours of searching the moon had risen and the sun had set, but I still hadn't a clue where that dumb beast had run off to. The nearly full moon was still red on the horizon, but until it got higher in the sky it was going to be a bit dark soon, so I ended my search for Ushi and headed home.

I was just getting to the top of the hill when I saw a strange light in the sky. At first, I thought it was just a falling star since it moved and glowed quite bright, but then it turned in the sky and stopped. Strangely I had the distinct feeling that it was looking at me. That didn’t make any sense, but I just couldn’t shake that feeling nor the oddity of how long it just stayed there. Then suddenly it just vanished like a candle being blown out.

I just kept staring at the early night sky, waiting for something or nothing, and that is when I heard the distinctive chewing and hoof sounds of an ox from inside the old temple. I hadn't planned on going in there, but changed course and sure enough, Ushi was standing there nibbling on the vines around the central stone obelisk. ‘That couldn't be good for his digestion,' I worried as I cautiously walked up, not wanting to spook the large beast again, gently grabbed his harness. For his part Ushi was completely calm now and allowed me to pull him away from the vines.

The moon was much brighter and pale white by then when something made me look at the hole in the vines where Ushi had chewed away to expose the stone underneath. There chiseled in on the rock was the character for 'healthy', but it was also the first character of my given name. I pulled back the vine to look at the next character in curiosity and was surprised that the next one was 'rule', completing 'Kenji'. Then I had to continue, though I knew it was probably just some crazy coincidence. The preceding characters thought really freaked me out. 'Pine' and 'base' declared 'Matsumoto'.

I told myself I was just being silly however since my name was actually a fairly common one. This was probably some history or tribute to some ancestor of mine. I release Ushi's harness to pull more and more on the vines, exposing the text around my name, but there wasn't any. It was only this name as far as I could tell. Breathing hard from ripping away the vines Ushi turned as he cocked his head and turned to walk away. I moved after, not wanting to lose him again, but then I could hear Kouki's voice carrying from our home as she called out "Kenji!" to call me home.

Ushi was similarly called, so I caught up and took his reins again and walked him back before yelling "Coming!" I stabled Ushi back in the barn and returned to our small home to find Kouki had dinner ready. Neither of us spoke about what had happened earlier as she served me up a small bowl of rice and vegetable stew.

After eating in silence I just had to talk so I asked, "Did you know my name is on that old stone obelisk in the temple ruins?"

She sighed and scowled at me, "Please don't tell me you are a vandal now!"