Chapter 8: The Broken Bond

Escaping from the mountain, Ume was able to meet up with her brother, Shou, in the woods. After telling him what happened, Shou decided to enter the mountain himself to search for Aimi. Now Ume began to make her way back to the forsaken town of Matsumura. Now that she's performed the Severing Ritual, she still had one task to do. Carrying the lovely bouquet of violets and the Mystic Mirror, Ume had to put her past behind her. Therefore she must go to the Tsuchiya Cemetery to cast away her unwanted love. Only then would her heart properly heal again…

She didn't want to be alone right now, especially after encountering that terrifying woman back at the mines. But Ume knew she had to do this so she gathered all of her courage and prepared to enter the cemetery for a second time. Entering through the grated gate, Ume tried to remember where the Shrine of Longing was located. The cemetery looked like it always did… Creepy and dark… Ume shined her flashlight over the tombstones and hoped no ghosts were lurking behind them. With a little luck, she could get this over and done with. Walking along the cobblestoned path, Ume also couldn't help seeing the red spider lilies grew rampant among some of the graves. Red Spider Lilies were also known as the flower of the dead…

Ume couldn't explain it but being back in the cemetery was giving her an unsettling feeling. The air seemed colder here, making the hairs at the back of her neck stand up. She also couldn't help noticing the red spider lilies seemed to glow redder than ever. Were these all signs of paranormal activity? Ume walked along the path while her eyes darted around in all directions and she could feel her heart pounding nervously. Something was different about the cemetery but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She couldn't let her imagination get the better of her.

Just to be safe, Ume gripped the handle of the Mystic Mirror tightly for reassurance. Somehow she was able to find the Shrine of Longing again. Standing before the shrine, Ume knew what to do. Like others before her, Ume placed her violets onto the shrine as a sign of respect. And to finally rid herself of the feelings she was harboring for someone. Someone she would never love again. Ume stood admiring the Shrine of Longing and for the first time ever, she smiled. Her heart was so much freer now. Perhaps later in life, she could fall in love again… With someone who could love her in return.

Now it was time to leave. Ume was eager to leave the cemetery as fast as possible. She didn't want to hang around here for long. She was already getting a bad vibe from this place. Turning away from the forlorn shrine, Ume began heading back down the cobblestoned path. As she quickened her pace, she couldn't help looking at some of the red spider-lilies that grew among the tombstones and Buddha statues. It was still spooky to see these beautiful flowers giving off an otherworldly glow. Then Ume stumbled over an uprooted stone and nearly almost tripped. The Mystic Mirror fell out of her hand but luckily it landed on the soft grass. But when Ume picked it up, she happened to catch a glimpse of something in the mirror's reflection…

She wasn't seeing things. It was really there. Ume felt her heart pounding faster and faster with fear as Ume held up the mirror and realized there was a ghostly being standing among the red-spider lilies. They were dark silhouettes of people, men and women. They stood morosely by like frozen statues. Even though Ume couldn't make out their eyes, she could see they were all wearing the same melancholy expression. Ume was afraid to move, afraid to disturb these ghosts. Who were they and why did they seem connected to the red spider-lilies? Ume managed to feel calmer but she was still scared. There were so many of them here…

Somehow the Mystic Mirror exposed their presence to her. And then Ume knew who these ghosts were… Unwanted Souls… Unfortunate forgotten souls who have been abandoned… They've never known love or peace in this world. Legend has it that Red Spider Lilies guided the dead into their next reincarnation. Now that she had a better understanding of what she was seeing, Ume relaxed somewhat. Trying her best to not make eye-contact with the spirits, Ume concentrated on safely making her way out of the cemetery. Just to be safe, Ume held the Mystic Mirror close in case of the ghosts tried attacking her.

The Unwanted Souls wandered aimlessly among the tombstones and trees but Ume was able to slip by them unnoticed. Finally Ume reached the cemetery gate. To her dismay, the gate wouldn't open anymore. Something was keeping the gateway tightly sealed. In other words, she was stuck in here. Ume started to panic a little but then remembered the Mystic Mirror. Maybe she could find a clue on how to get the gate open again? Holding the mirror up at the gate, Ume gazed into its glassy surface and did see something. The reflection was different in the Mystic Mirror…

Reflected in the Mystic Mirror was what appeared to be a grave? Its exact location was hard to pin down but Ume did notice that brightly glowing white chrysanthemums grew among the dirt. Another thing that bothered Ume was that the grave looked fresh as if someone just died and been buried there recently… Was it possible that the Tsuchiya Cemetery was still in use? Ume decided to investigate so she had no choice but to leave the gate and search the cemetery for this grave. Ume knew it wouldn't be in the oldest part of the cemetery so she started by looking for newer tombstones or graves.

So many people were buried in this graveyard that Ume wondered if she would be able to find this spot. The only clue she got from the Mystic Mirror was that this grave would have chrysanthemums growing among it. Ume began her search by holding up the mirror and using it to reflect the tombstones, graves and statues. The Unwanted Souls continued to stand diligently by the red spider-lilies and Ume was relieved to see that none of these silent ghosts acknowledged her presence. But she still wondered who they were or why they were here.

It wasn't easy. There were millions of tombstones; some were hard to get to. But Ume didn't give up and continued to search for that one tombstone that had been reflected in the Mystic Mirror. After doing some back-tracking, Ume kept walking up and down the aisle of tombstones, markers and monument statues. Eventually something caught her attention… Now Ume carefully approached one tombstone along a row of moss-covered tombstones. This looked like it could be a family grave. And Ume found the one that had chrysanthemums growing all over it. At first nothing was out of the ordinary until Ume held up the mirror and gazed into it. Ume let out a startled gasp when she realized that a ghost was sitting somberly on top of the tombstone.

Ume instinctively took a couple of steps back when the ghost made its presence known to her. By the looks of it, it looked like a young girl. Disturbingly enough, she appeared to be around Ume's age which meant that she died when she was young… Ume could see yellow chrysanthemums growing out from her head, around her neck and her arms. This girl had also been a victim of the Hanahaki Disease…Ume could hear the ghost girl's quiet sobs as she sat gloomily on her grave where her long unkempt hair hid her face. Ume eyed the ghost girl warily and even took a bold step closer. To her surprise, the ghost girl seemed to shrink away from her as if shy. Ume slowly got over her fear and began to feel genuine sympathy for this lost soul. Was she the one sealing the gateway? Why? As Ume stood around, uncertain of what to do, the ghost girl was mumbling sorrowfully to herself and Ume was able to catch most of what she was saying.

"Kazuki… Where…? Can't find…you…Kazuki… Please? Kazuki…You were the one. You were the one…," The Shy Girl continued to mumble quietly to herself while completely ignoring Ume.

Ume knew this had to be a clue. This Shy Girl couldn't move on unless she found someone name Kazuki. Was that somebody else buried here in the cemetery? Ume stepped forward, close enough to read the name on the tombstone. She could make out the name "Kiku Adachi." Then Ume reached out and plucked a mum from the tombstone. She expected to get a flashback to see into the ghost's heart but it didn't happen. Then she remembered… Ume was cured of the disease; she lost the ability to look into the hearts of others. No other choice but to search the cemetery for the one called "Kazuki."

Now Ume started walking away and left behind the Shy Girl who continued to sit on her grave unmoving. Ume used the flashlight to read the names on the tombstones and began searching for the name Kazuki. Perhaps some of the graves were arranged alphabetically? Walking along the cobblestoned path, Ume stopped when she spotted rows upon rows of tombstones up on a hill. Nothing of interest up there… Ume continued her exploration and came upon a row of Jizo statues wearing cute little knit-caps. A few of them even had offerings such as little toys, trinkets, flowers and a pile of pebbles. Just when Ume was at a lost on what to do next, that's when the ghost seemed to appear out of nowhere…

Ume stopped in her tracks and watched as a young man with his back to her was slowly crossing a bridge to the other side of the cemetery. The ghostly man was cloaked in darkness, giving him a more "shadowy appearance. Come to think of it, Ume had not explored the northeast part of the cemetery. And that was where the ghostly man was heading... Could he be the one she was looking for? There was only one way to know for sure. Ume headed for the bridge and decided to follow the ghost. Crossing the wide wooden bridge, Ume happened to stop and looked over the side. She could feel a nice breeze blowing through the dark trees from here. And she could even see the running river down below.

Once on the other side, Ume saw that this area contained a lot of graves of ancient Japanese noble families. Stone lanterns lit up the paved paths while Ume could make out important cenotaphs, tombstones honoring Japanese soldiers from World War II. Along the hills, Ume spotted more Jizo statues sitting on top of tombstones along with colorful pinwheels which blew with the soft breeze. Up ahead of her, Ume could make out the very same shadowy ghost silently walking down the path. He was heading deeper into the wooded cemetery. Along the way, Ume stopped when she spotted some stone stairs that led up the hill and to a shrine. She decided to take a detour and explore what was up there.

The shrine was not only for offering one's prayers and respect for the dead, but Ume saw that it was also a little house where somebody used to live. Ume easily stepped into the residence and saw it was a real derelict. Nobody had lived here in a long time. The wooden walls were bare; bits of furniture that were left behind were filthy and rotten. There was nothing of interest in the living-room but when Ume entered the little bedroom. Ume went over and started going through the dresser bureau to look for anything useful. Ume found a little glass bottle of Sacred Water that she was happy to collect. She also happened to find pages of paper with something written on them. By the looks of it, it was from a diary. Due to the dirt-stains, it was hard to make out most of the reading but Ume was able to read some of the pages.

4/14

Sometimes I hear them at night. The wandering souls who cannot rest in peace… I was the only one brave enough to take on the job of groundskeeper here, but even I have to admit that this place spooks me. I firmly believe the dead needs to be respected, but the dead doesn't always respect the living. So many lost souls roam among these burial hills and I do all I can to keep them out.

4/16

Today I saw another visitor down by the Shrine of Longing. That shrine has been there for as long as I can remember. I know all about the superstitions that surround the town of Matsumura. A disease that plagues those with one-sided love… The story of the Unloved Maiden… Legends of a shadowy meadow that grows near the Otherworld… Stories I've known since I was a kid. To this day, visitors continue to cast away their unwanted love down by the shrine.

4/18

Something woke me up in the middle of the night. When I went to go investigate, I happen to notice a strange shadowy man lurking outside my window. He disappeared so suddenly that I wondered if I imagined him. But it left me feeling uneasy.

4/19

I saw the man again the next night. I was on my way to my cottage when I spotted him walking among the tombstones. I've never seen him before but I could tell it was the same man from last night. I called out to him but the man ignored me. The man appeared to be searching for something. I thought he was perhaps looking for somebody's grave? When I tried to follow him, the man vanished once again. I couldn't find him.

4/20

I spotted him again. This time I was able to follow the strange man. He appeared to be heading toward the Mound of the Nameless, said to be the most sacred place in the cemetery where those with no name or family are buried. While I spied from afar, the shadowy man still appeared to be searching for something. Then I heard him mutter a name and suddenly he vanished from my very sight. The man was a ghost all along!

4/21

I haven't left my cottage since last night. Sometimes I'm still afraid to look out my own window in fear of seeing that shadowy man again. I still wonder who it is he's searching for. I've asked around but nobody could give me any information about the shadowy man I've described. I'm also too afraid to head back to the Mound of the Nameless where the shadowy man was last seen lurking. No matter who he was in life, the ghost continues to search for someone in the cemetery.

The diary ended there and Ume didn't find any more pages to read. However the diary did provide her with a crucial clue. The Mound of the Nameless… Perhaps that was where the ghost was heading? With this new lead, Ume exited the cottage and started going in the direction where the Shadowy Man was heading. Following a wooded trail through the trees, Ume could hear the hoots of an owl somewhere above the trees but it was too dark to see. Eventually she reached her destination and Ume came upon another courtyard that contained ancient tombstones and old graves. But what fascinated Ume the most was the very large pyramid-shaped rock filled top to bottom with Jizo statues of various shapes and sizes. Some statues wore brightly colorful bibs.

Ume stepped up to the large pyramid-shaped rock and studied it by shining her flashlight up at it. No doubt this must have been a popular place for tourists to explore. She began circling the Mound of the Nameless while trying to see if she could see the top. But Ume stopped and gasped when she spotted the very same Shadowy Man she'd follow here. The Shadowy Man hadn't noticed her. He stood perfectly still with his back still facing her. And as she stood there watching the Shadowy Man, that's when Ume had a sudden thought… "Is it possible? Could this man never have had a proper burial? Is that why he wanders on his own? Unable to reunite with the girl he loves?"

Ume didn't move and she couldn't keep her eyes off the Shadowy Man standing not too far from her. She pondered on what to do. Despite how unwise it was, Ume carefully approached the ghostly man and called out to him. "Excuse me…sir?" she whispered gently. The Shadowy Man didn't turn around. Gripping the Mystic Mirror tightly in one hand, Ume tried again. "Pardon me…sir?"

The Shadowy Man still wouldn't respond to her. Ignoring her uneasiness, Ume remembered the man's name. "Kazuki…," Ume called out the ghost's name.

This got the spirit's attention. Hearing his name, the Shadowy Man slowly turned around in the direction of Ume. As Ume watched the man turned to face her, she saw the man's face for the first time and she placed a hand over her mouth in horror. Brightly purple lavenders grew out of the Shadowy Man's eyes, obscuring his vision. Ume stood frozen in fear as the blinded Shadowy Man floated forward and then reached out a hand to her. Like reflex, Ume lifted the Mystic Mirror and caught the ghost's reflection. The Mystic Mirror grew hot in her hands until a blinding flash caught the ghost off-guard.

The Shadowy Man was blown back by the force of the mirror's powerful flash and seemed temporarily stunned before the ghost became hostile and began to pursue Ume more aggressively. Ume had no choice but to fight back as the Shadowy Man moved in to attack. Holding the mirror in front of her, Ume carefully aligned the hand-held mirror until she felt it grow warm and let out an exorcising flash that sapped away at the hostile ghost's health. But unfortunately the Shadowy Man had some fight in em'…

The Shadowy Man disappeared and Ume armed with the Mystic Mirror looked around to locate him. Ume turned in time to see the Shadowy Man coming at her from behind. As Ume positioned the Mystic Mirror again, Ume couldn't stop staring into the Shadowy Man's face whose eyes were covered with lavenders. Suddenly the Shadowy Man stopped and stared ominously back at Ume… and then without warning, the ghost's lavender flowers shot out like darts and pelted Ume in the face.

With a startled scream, Ume reached up both hands to furiously wipe away the strongly-scented lavenders from her face which left her momentarily vulnerable. She wasn't fast enough and she cried out when she felt the Shadowy Man's icy-cold grip on her. Managing to wipe all the lavenders from her face, Ume fought with determination to push the ghostly man off her. During the struggle, Ume avoided looking the dead man in the face but while she managed to shove the Shadowy Man away from her, that's when she heard him open his mouth and he spoke to her…

"Kiku…?" the Shadowy Man whispered mournfully.

It was right at that very moment that Ume finally understood. She knew what she had to do now. Pointing the Mystic Mirror at the restless spirit, Ume waited for the mirror to gather full spiritual energy before delivering a final powerful flash that rendered the hostile ghost before her subdued. The Shadowy Man stumbled back while letting out an anguished wail before falling to its knees. "Kiku…Kiku…," the Shadowy Man continued to sadly confusedly to itself. As soon as she was sure it was safe, Ume stepped forward and held out her hand to the ghostly man. Sitting in the palm of her hand was the glowing mum she'd gotten from the Shy Girl's grave from earlier.

Ume patiently waited while trying to calm her wildly beating heart. As she'd hoped, the Shadowy Man sensed the presence of the flower. The young man slowly lifted his head and despite no longer having eyes, he seemed to stare uncertainly at Ume's out-stretched hand. And then the Shadowy Man reached out his hand and Ume gently dropped the mum into his palm. Now Ume stepped back and watched as the Shadowy Man stared down at the mum in his hand. Kiku's flower… Ume watched the Shadowy Man and that's when she saw a different expression on his face… The man named Kazuki became emotional when clutching the yellow mum in his hand. And when he looked up, he stared not at Ume but on another girl who appeared to him…

Ume turned around and immediately recognized the Shy Girl named Kiku. She watched as Kiku walked over to Kazuki and reached up a hand to lovingly touch his face. Upon her touch, Ume watched in amazement as the lavenders seemed to melt from Kazuki's eyes until the two brown eyes filled with love were gazing back at the girl standing before him. The moment he saw her, he fell in love all over again… And as Kazuki put his arms around her, the mums wilted and fell off Kiku. Kiku's smile grew bigger as she finally reunited with one she loved all along. Their love was equal which therefore cured each other of the Hanahaki Disease.

Ume witnessed their love and then she knew. She'd broken the seal on the cemetery gateway. She would be able to leave now. Kazuki and Kiku embraced and vanished together… They would able to rest in peace now. And Ume would always be inspired by their everlasting love for one another. Taking one final look at the Mound of the Nameless, Ume turned and decided to be on her way. There was no more reason to stay here in the cemetery. But later as Ume was crossing the wooden bridge and following the stone-path by the tombstones, she unexpectedly ended up running into a familiar ghost. Ume stopped and stared when a woman wearing a lovely-orange kimono was silently walking along the graves and tombstones. It was the Unloved Woman…

"I wanted his love… I wanted his love…," the Unloved Woman was saying bitterly. Ume didn't move in fear the ghost would spot her. But she did notice something different about the Unloved Woman. She wasn't covered in ghastly red-spider lilies. Perhaps this was how she looked when she was once alive? Luckily the Unloved Woman didn't notice Ume and instead she vanished up a hill. But now Ume was curious. Where was she going? Holding the Mystic Mirror in front of her for comfort, Ume decided to follow the ghostly woman. Once she reached the path where the Unloved Woman disappeared to, Ume realized the ghost had gone up to Old Cemetery Hill. Why was the Unloved Woman heading up there?

Ume took the stone-steps one at a time and kept a close eye out for the woman. Upon reaching the top, Ume remembered exploring this old cemetery with Shou earlier. According to him, this belonged to the Kimura Family, the most influential family known in Matsumura. And it was here where Ume found the Unloved Woman. From a safe distance, Ume spied the Unloved Woman crouching over somebody's grave and sobbing in heartache. Even though she was afraid to get too close, Ume couldn't help but feel pity for the restless spirit. What was keeping the Unloved Woman from finding peace?

"I will never be loved… Never be loved…," the Unloved Woman wept in despair before vanishing altogether. Ume waited a few minutes, listening to the nightly noises and making sure the ghost was really gone. Once the coast was clear, Ume decided it was safe to venture into the cemetery now. The first thing she did was approach the tombstone where the Unloved Woman was crying over. One glance at the tombstone and Ume saw a name barely illegible from old age. "Yoichi…" The tombstone was quite ancient but by the looks of it, he must have been a young lord from long ago. And yet it still begged the question… Why was the woman in the orange-kimono crying over this grave? Was this man somebody from the Unloved Woman's past?

Ume didn't find any other clues, but this recent turn of events did make her wonder about the vengeful ghost that's been stalking her, Shou and Aimi. Who was she? Why was the Unloved Woman so angry and bitter? It must have happened long, long ago. From there, Ume turned and left the Old Cemetery Hill. And just like she promised her big brother, Ume decided to head back to the safety of the car to wait for Shou and Aimi to come back from their adventures.

Sadly this will be the end of Ume Fujiyama's adventure. The rest of it is up to Aimi and Shou. So consider this a conclusion for a character. Thanks for reading so far. More updates will come later. See ya soon!