Twenty-four years blended together, in the same town, surrounded by the same faces. I had gotten too comfortable in the monotonous routine; wake up in a fog, stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, get dressed, drive the forty-five minutes in bumper-to-bumper traffic to work, sit in the break room till clock-in, plaster a fake smile to my face for nine fucking hours, clock-out, drive an hour and a half home during rush hour, shove whatever convenient food within reach into my face, glare at the News Anchor's, take a shower, lay in bed and pray for sleep. When I was younger I told myself I would never end up like this, I would go on adventures, live a life of excitement and fall in love with the world around me. Alas, somewhere along the way, reality infected me and turned me into this mindless zombie. Just another worker bee. It wasn't until a deranged man came into my work and thrust a 40-caliber handgun in my face, that I finally snapped out of my daze. I could die at any moment, by the hands of another human or just a random act of God, but either way I would be left in some form of after-life with eternal regret.

So, taking my epiphany by the balls, I quit my job, sold my car and all of my furniture, broke the lease on my studio apartment, and jumped on the first available flight. Twenty-two hours and fifty-three minutes later I wound up in Kyoto, standing in front of the run down Junibo house, of which I had just bought on impulse.

I have clearly lost my mind.

Unclutching and reclutching the handle of my large suitcase, I rolled my shoulders, took a deep breath, and began to climb the stone steps of my new home. Setting my luggage outside the entrance, I took the ancient key in my hands and unlocked the door.

Fuck.

I was welcomed with cobwebs and wires hanging from the ceiling. The concrete of the small foyer was cracked and smudged with what looked suspiciously like dried blood. The first wooden step leading into the house was splintered and looked far from stable. Taking my bandana from my hair, I wrapped it around my nose and mouth and, carefully avoiding the death stair, I continued my entrance.

The ceilings were high, and I'm sure were positively glorious in it's prime. Unfortunately it was obviously neglected, telltale by the sunlight streaming through various holes and cracks. Long, cheap lights hung from the rafters with their electrical cords dangling dangerously low. I turned to my left, above me seemed to be some kind of indoor balcony looking over the concrete room in front of me. Perhaps this used to be a geisha house. I particularly liked that feature.

I was snapped out of my inspection by a shadow jumping across my peripheral vision. Goosebumps spread across my arms and the hair on the back of my neck stood erect. I slowly turned to face the dark corridor that lead further into oblivion, I should have known a house like this would be haunted. Mustering up a pathetic amount of courage I slowly crept down the hallway, bright eyes darting to every dark corner, I had a feeling the fucker would jump out at any moment. Keeping my hands on the wall to lead my way, my fingers caught in a carved handle. Firmly grasping it I yanked it to the side, unveiling a hidden garden. A porch wrapped around the perimeter and a balcony above it. I took a hold of the sliding door again and folded it into the other, until it stood neatly to the side. I continued to the remaining three sides, completely forgetting about the ominous shadow. Upon completion, the house was finally illuminated and the years of musk were seeping out of the wide openings.

Alright then, time to get to work.

I started to turn around to get started on the front of the house when the telltale signs of being watched crept onto me. Spinning around quickly to try and catch the culprit, I came face to face with a hovering midget wearing a mask.

"Hello!" It chirped.

The remnants of my sanity has officially gone.

"AHHHHHHHHH!" Backing up as fast as possible, I slipped off the porch and fell onto the mossy floor of the garden.

"Oh no! Please don't be frightened! I didn't mean to scare you!" The midget floated up to me quickly.

"No! NO! Stay away!" I shook my hands frantically as I tried to find my footing.

"Please mi'lady, I mean you no harm! I am Kotetsu, one of the spirits of Junibo!"

Silence.

Did it just say one of the spirits?

THERE'S MORE!?