Rude Guests (Shinnou, Maihime)

A lady sat in her home, three cups of tea on the table—one for herself and two for guests yet to come.

She lived in Purgatory.

Her guests never changed, because no one else would visit Purgatory, save for them.

“Greetings, Ma’am.” A crane entered her house and sat on her left side.

“Did the weather treat you nice today?” The Crane tried to small talk.

It always came first to her house and questioned if she was alright or if the weather was nice, even when the weather never moved in Purgatory.

Then the Crane talked about how the Lady should help others. Living alone was not good, and she needed company. Sow goodwill, and reap goodwill.

The Lady didn’t bulge, nor said anything. The Crane continued to talk, but its patience was cut short.

It spread its wings toward the cup of tea of the Lady.

“Can’t you see it? Only by doing good, your karma will be good! All your indulgence, your indolence, does is give you a path straight to hell! Stop thinking about yourself!”

Before the crane continued, a raccoon entered the house and sat at her right side.

“How are you, woman?” The raccoon greeted her.

“The house is just as neat and tidy as I remember.” The raccoon commented. The Crane scoffed and retreated its wing.

The raccoon always came second to her house. It was rude, and always talked about how nice the Lady’s house was.

The raccoon started to talk. At first, it tried to concern her to be petty, and do petty things. Steal for her sake, slack off, and indulge in gluttony.

The raccoon got desperate and startled at her silence. It started to tell the Lady to take care of herself.

It stared at the Lady with abject horror. However, the Crane soon chastised it for being selfish and evil, putting its own needs above those of others.

The raccoon lashed out at the Crane, saying how only putting the needs of others would lead to self-destruction.

The Lady placed her tea cup down and clapped her hands. “Death is the end for those who are patient. The good, the bad, the selfless, and the selfish all return to dust. Yet,” The Lady looked at both the Crane and the Raccoon.

“Balance is required to thrive. I cannot live a fulfilling selfless, or petty, life. If you are not willing to make concessions with each other, and always fight, I require none of you.”

Like waking from a dream, the Purgatory around her gave way to the fresh and green scenery of her house.

The Lady looked at the cups of tea. “You haven’t touched the tea, yet again.” This fable had no hindsight or clever life lesson.

It was a pathetic tale of a soul forever stranded at the crossroads of life. Yet, what it bad if The Lady lived at the crossroads?

She didn’t think so, she was herself in this Purgatory.

Someone with no need for selfishness.

A soul with a lack of selflessness.

“Hey! Lady Chi! I got some, bleugh!” A fox on the verge of vomiting appeared at her doorstep. She managed to hold herself back and rose a gourd filled to the brim with sake.

A small smile cracked on Chi’s lips. Her four eyes softened the moment she looked at her dear friend. She could not choose her friend.

Or the reason why she chose to be friends with a Drunken Fox. Lady Chi could not rid herself of the small spec of pettiness she had left in this world. Her friend.

Lady Chi walked up to the Drunke Fox, one hand on her belly, another on her back, one to take the gourd out of her hands, and the last one pinched the Fox’s cheeks. The Drunken Fox complained and whined.

“Stay silent, would you? I offer you a place to crash out, the last you should do is come sober to enjoy some tea with me.” The Drunk Fox grunted in pain as she was forced to sit beside the table.

“Stand still and try not to puke. I will make a tea to help you with the intoxication.”

Lady Chi was happy to have a friend come over after her usual awful guests.