Chapter 2

As he walked on he considered Adashino's diagnoses. 「専門医になんてかかる金があるか」"no way I'd have money to see a brain doctor," he thought. "maybe it's tokoyami wrecking havoc in my head?" he wondered also but quickly dismissed that notion; that was not how it behaved. It's possible, but highly unlikely. Soon he was immersed in the world of thoughts. Who could he ask to ensure his body to be disposed of properly? Not Adashino, obviously because he might….oh that scoundrel what the hell does he think he is doing consummating with Io already that poor girl her parents gave her up to be sacrificed to what I wonder if they know she is alive at all or would they be invited to the weddingiftheycomeIcouldknoxktheirteethoutibetterno tatafriend'sweddingbutit'ssuchahideouspracticeto…

Ginko was suddenly thrown back on the path with a loud "zap." He looked up in surprise at first but his gaze quickly turned into recognition. He was looking at a phenomenon on the rise for awhile. He took out a bound bunch of paper, a bamboo stick fashioned into a stylus and a small inkpot. He made an entry; "roughly spherical in shape, about three suns ("sun" is close to an inch) in diameter. Affixed about five shakus (about 1.5 yards) above ground. A swarm of aobokori ("green dust")inside, apparently in suspended animation…" The note had about a dozen such previous entries. Before he finished the "suspended animation" ceased to be, releasing with it a puff of smoke and walked on.

They were no more than a fleeting curiosity for Ginko, but a few things about them bothered him. "Why can't I sense them before I see them?" he wondered. Nevertheless he dismissed that thought quickly, as the sun was already setting. He had to set camp soon.

Having finished several salty rice balls Io had sent with him that morning and lay flat. He spat out a plum pit from an umeboshi (plums preserved with salt) that Io put in them. It went straight up, came falling down, and hit him smack on his forehead. He grimaced, but focus shifted, and soon imagined her and Adashino in dazzling white wedding outfits. He began to doze off. In twilight stage of folding consciousness images morphed in his dream. The bride was no longer Io but Tanyuu. Her new husband was obscured from his view. Her beauty takes his breath away. Spring sun was bright all around them, cherry petals blowing in the wind. They drink their binding cup of sake, and the guests begin to quietly announce their blessings. Ginko tries to utter something but a powerful hand pulls his shoulder back. In a moment dark clouds gather over head, the crowd vanish. He turns around and is met by a familiar figure. It demands to know his purpose. He cannot answer. He cannot answer. It devours the whole of him. He screams soundlessly.

He woke in cold sweat again panting.

He sat up and realized who would be the guarantor of his death.

He tossed and turned for awhile but managed enough sleep to continue the next morning. He was headed to the Karubusa mansion. It would be a week's trek.