Case Closed.
"Your child is right here," Naru told the woman's spirit as he raised his hand, holding up a thin piece of wood in the shape of a stylized human figure. "Take the children you've gathered… and go home." He said, tossing the wooden figure into the air.
Kurobara's eyes expand, her eyes could not help but to follow the human-shaped doll, it had a soft white glow to it. It kept getting bigger and bigger, in till it lit the whole room up. It was shaped like a little girl who was grinning with childhood wonder. The Light was warm and gentle like a mother and daughters love.
Something she wished to have, Kurobara eyes began to leak tears. If that's what a mother love looks like then she really wished she had that back home. Maybe things would be different. The woman spirit's eyes widened with hope as she reached out to hold the tiny hand of her happy daughter. A blindingly bright light filled the room as she held her long lost child.
Kurobara could not help but to let a tender smile at this scene it was beautiful to watch. Masako was also smiling, they were glad. They didn't have to hurt them after all, she should have known that Naru would be so sneaky.
"Mai, Kurobara, look." Masako said, also smiling, as the light began to spread to the children's spirits, and their tormented faces became happy smiling ones as they flew about the room, gathering around the reunited mother and child. The rising sun began to shine through the windows as the spirits peacefully departed.
Kurobara took a breath and leaned her head against the wood of the floor. Her eyes went slightly blurry from using abilities too much. It hurt, but she could bear with it for now. After laying down for a couple of minutes she felt a breeze. She looked up and saw Naru standing there with his pure blue eyes.
Naru sighed and took out his hand out. Kurobara weekly smiled as she grabbed hold of his hand, pulling herself up with his help. "You're using your abilities too much" He stated with a cold tone, their hands still laced together. "Is Naru the Narcissist concern about little old me?" Naru rolled his eyes at her.
"Stop using your abilities so much, it's dangerous" Ignoring her previous comment. Kurobara chuckled "I'll be fine. Aein, I know what I am doing. Plus I had to protect you and Mai. Of course Masako too." Kurobara said with a sweet smile. He ruffles his throat, causing Kurobara to arch her eyebrow.
"I don't need protecting." He says a little coldly
"Uhuh. Yeah sure. You really worried me" Kurobara admitted to him with a shy smile, Naru blinked a couple of times "Worried about me?" Naru raised his eyebrow upwards. " Yeah, I care about you I do not want you to get hurt, Hey wait get that stupid arrogant smirk off your face before I punch it off," She says with a flushed face.
Kazuya gave her small smirk, his mouth twitched briefly. Kuro gave him an unamused expression "You really annoy me… By the way thank you, for not hurting any of the child spirits and the women. It was a really beautiful sight." She told him while getting closer to him. His posture goes a little stiff.
Kurobara took a breath before letting go of his hand and pulled him into a hug. This caused Naru to stiffen even more. Obviously not used to being touched by other people, her head leaned on his shoulder and whispered a Thank you. Kurobara's face was as red as a cherry. They kept still for a couple of minutes.
Neither of them wanted to untangle from each other. Naru would not admit it but he felt his heart beat race faster. Both of their hearts were erratic so much so that they could feel it in their ears. A cough was heard. Kurobara abruptly moved away from Naru with a flustered expression. It was Lin who was Smirking.
"I hate to interrupt you're Loving embrace but we have something's to discuss with the others." Kurobara flushed "It was just a hug. A friendly hug do not get the wrong idea Lin-san…" She says with a small frown. Lin quirked his eyebrow, not believing her words. Kuro moved away, even more, to put more distance between herself and Naru.
Meanwhile, Masako was glaring at Kuro. She was stiff and didn't really appreciate Kuro's closeness to Naru, it really annoyed her. Masako was well… jealous, she wished she was in Kuro's place. "They're all gone." Masako reported a little stiffly "There are no more evil spirits in this house." Kuro headed to Mai.
Mai gave her a small smirk, obviously seeing what had happened between her and Naru. Kuro ignored her stupid little grin and helped Mai up. "What made them all leave?" Ayako asked. She and Takagawa had missed the main attraction being stuck back in another part of the house. "She got what she wanted," Naru replied as if it should have been obvious. "She got her daughter back."
"Huh?" Ayako asked, sweat-dropping. Not really understanding anything Naru had told them. "You mean that piece of wood?" Mai asked. "What was that all about?" Kurobara chuckled softly. "Exactly what you saw." He replied. "A hitogata." Mai sweat drops, having no idea what a Hitogata is.
"It is a type of doll, whose name can also be written as katashiro. Before Japanese dolls were known as Ningyō, they were more known by two different names 'Hina' and 'Hitogata'" Kurobara says proceeding to explain. "They are the two types of dolls. By the names, you could guess what they do, for example, Hitogata. Hitogata is written with characters Human and shape the one that Naru had just used. They also could be called Katashiro"
Kuro took a breath, as everyone's eyes were on her "Katashiro means replacement shape. These types of dolls were used as a replacement for the human body in ceremonial rites. After that, they changed it to Ningyō in the Muromachi Era. Fun fact Ningyo also has the same characters as a Hitogata"
"They're also the archetype for the straw effigy dolls used for cursing." Ayako added. "You take a piece of paulownia wood and carve it into the shape of the person upon whom you want to cast a spell. But I thought that would be to put someone under a curse, since a hitogata is similar to Wara Ningyō"
"Spellcasting always has both a light and a dark side," Naru explained patiently. "A white spell is used for a good cause, and a black spell is used to harm people. The same type of spell often has both light and dark combined and can be used to achieve both results." Kurobara nodded "That is true. "
Right." Monk said. "In esoteric Buddhism, the methods of confounding one's enemies can be used either way as well." Kurobara looked at her friend and saw her face twist even more in confusion
"I see. But why would a hitogata be useful in jourei?" Mai asked. "Hitogatas are a yorishiro for the spirits." Naru replied, Mai, looked at Naru with even more confusion "What's a Yorishiro" Kurobara looked at Mai "it's a container for spirits to go in, I told you before that dolls can be possessed by Spirits. It's easy for them since the dolls are empty and have no souls." Kuro says softly.
Kazuya nodded softly at her "If I were to pattern a hitogata after you, that hitogata would become your double." He told her. "If I were to do harm to your hitogata, you would actually be harmed as well." Mai flinched just imagining it. "That's how close a hitogata becomes to the real person. That Hitogata represented Tomiko. The woman spirit thought of it as her own daughter, as if she were reuniting with her own child. That's why she left to rest in peace."
"Exactly like Voodoo dolls" Kuro commented softly. "I'm impressed you made that hitogata." Takagawa told Naru. "Is that why you had to leave for a while?" Naru nodded "Yes. And I needed to learn more about her past life."
"Huh… And?"
"The woman's name is Hiro Oshima. This house was built where her house used to stand. Tomiko was her only child. But one day Tomiko disappeared… and six months later Tomiko's dead body was found in their pond." Naru firmly states. "Had Tomiko been kidnapped?" Lin asked. "Possibly." Naru replied. "The woman then…"
"… Committed suicide by throwing herself down the well." Ayako finished. Naru's eyes widened very slightly in surprise. "I'm not positive about that part." Naru told her. "But anyway, I just needed Tomiko's date of birth to properly make the hitogata."
"It's too early to relax." Naru said strictly. "Our job isn't quite finished yet. The spirits may be gone, but we still have to submit our report to the client and break base." He reminded them as he left the room, followed by Lin.
Wow." Monk remarked as he stood up and brushed himself off. "But still, who would have thought that Naru was an onmyouji?" Kuro shook her head slightly. It couldn't be possibly Naru. Kuro decided to walk off to Naru who was packing the equipment. "Hey, Naru when we get back to the office there is something that we should discuss."
Naru turned around to meet her mixed eyes "You can tell me now" Kurobara sighed "I think the office is a better setting to talk. In private"
(Timeskip)
After a saying there goodbyes to the family they went home except Kurobara and Naru. Naru sitting in his office glancing at Kurobara wondering what she wanted. Kurobara smiled softly "You said you have a brother right?" Naru flinched slightly. "How is this important" she just chuckled "Just answer the question"
"Yes… I had a brother"
"Had? You say it in the past tense. He's… not among the living is he."
Naru tense up, giving the answer she needed "I see. Guessing by your reaction I am right. It confirms my suspicions" Naru eyes took on a colder appearance "Are you done…" He says with a hiss, trying to keep his emotions under control. "I think I met him shortly after you told me about him. He looks just like you, but he had a slightly different Aura and his eye colour was a bit darker than yours"
Naru looked at her in surprise "you're twin brothers am I right. No wonder why you look the same, I met him in a dream I believe me and Mai were Astroprojecting." Naru sighed ruffling his black hair. "What is his name?" Kuro questioned softly.
"… Gene" Kurobara looked at him with a quirked eyebrow. Gene, it was obviously not his name probably a nickname given by Naru. Why wasn't he giving his name out? "Gene huh. I guess it's a nickname. I am sorry for your loss" Naru sighed softly at her expression, he didn't know whether to tell her about his identity.
It could help him find his brothers body but could he trust her. Kuro has been a great help with the two cases she worked on with him. With her help, she could help him to find Gene quicker. It's a risk he will admit. Kurobara sighed watching Naru battle himself she wonders what is wrong but now that she thought about it she probably brought some unwanted memories.
She felt bad for it, but she needed to know. Maybe she should come back another day and apologize she felt her eyes drift downward's before proceeding to get up from her chair. Taking a breath "I better go home. " Kuro goes to the door softly and begun to open but Naru seemed keen on not letting her leave.
"Can you keep a secret Kurobara?" Naru says with a cold tone.
KiraLawliet is here. This chapter is finally done, I did a lot of research for this chapter. Pretty interesting stuff. Hitogata and Hina were actually fun to learn about, I don't really like researching things but I did it anyway. So anyways I hoped you enjoyed this chapter.
Oh yeah hoped you enjoyed the fluff between Kuro and Naru. We all deserved some cuteness am I right? I am sorry if Naru is out of character I try my best to keep it under wraps but it's very hard you know? Anyways thank you for reading my story and following me.
