A teenage boy stood outside of Kurosawa Mansion. He was of medium height and build, and had short hair that was very obviously white. He wanted to go inside, wanted to see his old friend…but if they caught him talking to the newcomers this early, surely they would be suspicious, even for the wrong reasons? Wouldn't they think he was going to tell them about the Kusabi Ritual? And then they would make him a Mourner, and how much help would he be then?

No, he had to wait. Wait for a while, at least long enough to get the Priests at their ease.

Itsuki Tachibana hated waiting.

As Itsuki hovered outside of Kurosawa Mansion, Yae and Sae hovered inside. They stood over their father and the two newcomers conversing in the study. Yae had discovered a lovely little alcove that branched off of the Family Altar Room and poked into her father's study, and often used it for solitude. Now they used it to eavesdrop on their father's conversation with the folklorists.

"So…" Ryokan Kurosawa said, sitting back and smiling amiably at Seijiro Makabe. "I take it you are here to study my humble village?"

Ryozo looked a little uncomfortable at this term, but wasn't sure how to refute it. Seijiro, however, smiled back at the Ceremony Master.

"Yes, I suppose we are."

"May I suggest that you wait a few days before you begin asking questions?" Ryokan implored. That's my father, Sae thought. Always to the point.

"Of course!" Seijiro exclaimed. "We don't wish to be an annoyance, and I'm sure that most would find an immediate survey most irritating."

Ryozo remained silent.

"We want to get to know the people here," Seijiro continued. "It's the best way to get to know a culture. And, of course, meeting people is always rather fascinating." He grinned at Ryokan.

"That's good to hear. I was afraid that you were like the last group that came here. They talked incessantly…it made them very difficult to receive, I must say."

You sure didn't mind hearing them scream, Yae thought bitterly. In truth, she believed that he was grieved by that…but she was unhappy with him right now, and that naturally bred contempt.

"I understand that you are interested in witnessing one of our rituals," Ryokan said. Sae inhaled deeply, not wanting to hear this part.

"Yes…" Ryozo murmured. "We were hoping that perhaps we could be present."

"Of course, if you are uncomf-" Seijiro began, but Ryokan cut him off.

"We would love to have you at the ceremony! It would be…lovely." Ryokan smiled again, but Yae knew him well enough to see the intense effort being put forth behind it.

Sae shot her a look. "Please, Yae…let's go…"

Yae turned to her twin and nodded. Together they left the alcove, hoping that they could prevent the nightmare about to come…