Holiday Magick (13 page)

Crow hopped down onto the nightstand, nearly knocking over a silver picture frame. She admired it and wondered if there was room for it in her bag. Then she noticed the picture itself. A man wearing a white tuxedo and a woman with straight black hair that brushed her hips, wearing a yellow evening gown, were posed in the rose garden at Yoyogi Park. The man had a yellow electric guitar slung over his shoulder. The woman was holding a pearlescent ball that looked quite familiar. A crash in the hallway startled Crow, and she fluttered under the bed.

The door opened and light spilled in. Slippered feet shuffled to the bedside. “Stupid balls lurking in hallways,” muttered Grandmother. “Now, let's collect up that pesky spirit.”

As Grandmother rubbed the doll and held it to Mei's sleeping face to collect her breath, Raven saw white tendrils of energy born of Grandmother's intention and will extend from the protective talismans sewn into the doll. They snaked out around the room seeking the spirit who had recently been near Mei. One edged up the wall to the windowsill. Raven hopped to one side, avoiding it. Others flowed under the bed. Raven called out with a harsh caw as they wrapped around Crow, enveloping her. The remaining tendrils joined them in capturing Crow. Raven watched helplessly as Crow was pulled into a cage of cotton batting and scraps of fabric sewn in the shape of a girl. The talismans bound her tightly inside the doll.

Raven tried to squeeze under the window but was too large. He beat his wings against it. Grandmother, noticing the fuss, came over and slammed the window shut, scowling at him and muttering about pests. Raven took to the air and flew to the park to find Fox.

He found her, free and unharmed, juggling for a group of homeless people gathered around the fountain. He transformed as he landed and strode up behind Fox, poking her with his cane in the small of her back.

“Hey,” she said. “Get the doll?”

“No. Crow was captured in your stead. What have you done?” His voice trembled with barely controlled anger and fear.

“Nothing,” said Fox innocently. The crowd dispersed, uncomfortable with the confrontation.

Raven's hand shot out and caught the pearlescent ball.

“Give that back!” Fox let the other balls fall to the ground.

Raven took a step back. “This, unless I miss my guess, is your star ball.”

Fox held out her hand. “Please. Give it back.”

“According to some legends, it contains your soul.” Raven examined the ball. “What happens if I drop it?” He let it drop a few inches, then caught it.

“All right! Just be careful!” hissed Fox. “What do you want?”

“You tricked Crow into taking your place,” accused Raven.

“Maybe.” Fox shrugged. “It was just a prank. You know, a bit of fun? We'll laugh about it over dinner tonight.”

Raven wasn't amused. He studied the ball and said thoughtfully, “It is rumored that whoever holds a fox's star ball may compel the fox to complete whatever task they set. Is this true?”

“Yes.” Fox held very still, eyes on the ball.

“Help me save her.”

“Give me the ball and I'll do whatever you like.” Fox took a step closer.

Raven's eyes narrowed. “I'll give it back after she's safe.”

Fox reached out. “Fine. I need to look into the ball to see where they are going. Just let me look at it.”

“Very well. But I'm not letting go of it.” Raven let her come close enough to peer into the ball.

Fox touched it lightly, grabbing Raven's wrist when he jerked the ball away. “Hold still,” she admonished. She touched the ball again. Ripples swirled out from the point of contact. “They are headed to the Tamagawadai Park along the Tama River. We can try to catch them at the Tamagawa Station.”

“I'll meet you there.” Raven pocketed the ball and took to wing.

Raven perched in an oak tree outside Tamagawa Station. Morning commuters were queuing up. He ruffled his feathers, wondering if Fox had been wrong about their destination. A small, nagging thought suggested that, perhaps, she had even been deliberately misleading and was plotting her escape while he sat here. More people passed through the station and there was still no sign of his quarry. Common crows were gathering around him, brooding in branches and on power lines. He took this as evidence that he was in the right place after all. When the crows erupted in a ruckus, he scanned the crowd emerging from the station and spotted Mei. He took wing and followed her toward the river, the crows taking flight and wheeling in the sky above him.

There was still no sign of Fox. Raven decided these crows could use her fur for nesting materials if things went wrong—well, any
more
wrong. Mei placed the doll holding his beloved Crow prisoner into a toy boat and launched it into the river. Seeing his chance, Raven went for broke and made a dive for the doll. The murder of crows above him screeched their approval. His talons closed on a bit of yarn hair that ripped off the doll, and he careened along the surface of the water fighting for altitude. A rock sailed past him and splashed into the river, thrown by a crow-hating onlooker. He regained altitude and circled back for another try.

A shrill whistle and a twist of reality nearby caught his attention. Raven aborted his next dive and glided downriver over the park. He spotted a Shinto priest who seemed more real than his surroundings. He was wearing a traditional white tunic over blue pants, and a tall, narrow black hat. Raven swooped in for a closer look and caught a glimpse of a red tail peeking out under the hem of the robe. The priest was wearing a silver fox paw and cherry blossoms on a leather cord around his neck.

Raven landed and assumed his aristocrat form. “About time you showed up.”

“Would you like a charm for good luck?” asked the priest. He held out a talisman made from white cloth, with red lettering on it.

“No, thank you.” Raven studied him over the top of his glasses. “Fox?”

The priest smiled slyly. “I'm here to offer purification for those in need.” He swatted Raven on the nose with a Shide wand. The zigzagged strips of paper rustled loudly.

Raven batted the wand away and said irritably, “While I have always questioned your sanity, I had rather thought you were slightly less crazy than this. Thank you for proving me wrong.”

The priest took him by the elbow and guided him toward the river. The dolls were floating around a bend in the river and into the waiting nets of young priests and shrine maidens. He said, “Could you help us, young man, as we gather the boats to take to the temple? We'll burn them there. No sense in tangling up fishermen's nets.”

“Ah.” Raven smiled. “I think a costume change is in order first. Crow would not approve of letting this coat become waterlogged.” Reality twisted, and he was dressed as a priest. He looked down at the simple tunic and pants. “Eh, not bad.” He didn't sound convinced. “A bit on the dull side. And rather…white.”

“Just grab a net and haul,” said the priest.

Raven grabbed a handful of net. “I take back what I said about your fur.”

“What?” Fox's brow furrowed.

“Oh, I was just thinking that those crows up there might be in need of nesting material. It
is
springtime.”

“That's not funny…”

Fox's retort was interrupted by a scream of “Fish!”, followed by a loud splash. The crowd along the bank was shouting and pointing as Mei bobbed in the river.

“Can you swim?” Fox asked Raven.

“Can you fly?”

“Fine. Just find Crow.” Fox tossed the hat aside, then dove into the water.

Raven dumped the net out onto the ground. He rummaged through the dolls and boats, frantically searching for the correct one. Several were tossed over his shoulder before he found a ragdoll dressed in a blue kimono. It was missing a lock of yarn hair. He breathed a sigh of relief and started to hug the soaking wet doll, then held it at arm's length to wring it out. As he turned to leave, another doll caught his eye. It was stained and had a mess of knotted short hair, as if often launched from catapults. He picked it up with the vague notion of tormenting Fox with it.

Raven pushed through the crowd gathered upstream, using his cane to gently nudge people aside. He had returned to his aristocrat persona, preferring it to the drabness of a priest. The doll holding Crow was tucked safely away in his hat. He sidestepped news crews and photographers. There, in the center of all the commotion, was the old Shinto priest. He was soaking wet with a blanket around his shoulders. Mei's grandmother stood near him, the child clutched in her arms. She was frowning in worry and answering questions softly.

“Can you tell us how she fell into the river?” asked one reporter.

“She dropped her doll and was trying to catch it,” said Grandmother, her voice trembling. She looked as if she wanted to fade into the background.

“Fish!” cried a distraught Mei.

Camera flashes went off like popcorn as reporters called out more questions. Raven tapped a photographer on the shoulder.

“Excuse me.” He held up a rag doll. “Is this the source of all this trouble?”

“Fish!” cried Mei in delight.

Her grandmother caught Mei before she could dive out of her arms. “Thank you.”

Raven handed the doll to Mei. “No worries.” He tipped his hat and retreated back into the park. The murder of crows settled into the trees around him, quietly watching and waiting. An hour later, after the news crews had departed and the crowd had dispersed, Fox joined him. She was back to her juggler persona in two steps.

“Where's Crow?”

Raven removed his top hat and pulled out the offending doll. “Now what?”

“You give me back my star ball so I can release her,” said Fox as she took the doll.

Raven reached into the hat again and removed the ball. He held it out, then pulled it back when she reached for it. “I have no patience for further trickery.”

“No more tricks,” Fox promised. She held out her hand.

Raven considered, then reluctantly handed her the ball. “Be quick about it.”

Fox juggled the ball and doll. They went round faster and faster. Green and gold foxfire spun out from the ball and enveloped the doll. There was a bright flash of light and…reality twisted.

Crow examined herself in a full-length mirror, admiring the twenty shades of black in her new dress. Each panel of the skirt, ruffle, and bit of lace held a different quality of blackness. She made a final adjustment to the tiny top hat resting on her curly dark hair. It just covered a missing lock. “Nearly perfect.”

Raven proffered a single black feather. “Perhaps this will do?”

She rewarded the gift with a smile as she tucked the feather into the hatband. “Perfect.”

Fox was sprawled in a chair, half-asleep. “Are we done now?”

“Yes.”

“Finally.” Fox hopped up and paid for the clothes as Raven collected the bags. She held the door for them. “Are we even?”

“Nearly,” said Crow.