Ever since I posted this one, I always worry over what readers might perceive of this because it is not the normal plotline. Still, despite that there are those who found it interesting enough to leave a review which is why I felt compelled to update this one since I'm quite free for two days. One again, please be reminded that this is set in an alternate universe and also be warned that characterization here would be somewhat different. By the way, I switched the characters here and made Night Rikou the love interest of Tsurara while the human form of Rikou from the manga will play the spirit form. I don't know why but I like his night form better.
Konan03 - you were the first to leave a review and I feel grateful for it. I love folklores and myths and legends too but sometimes, when it comes to our own customs, I'm having a hard time accepting it nor denying it. Anyway, I think I made some mistake regarding the first few paragraphs of chapter one so I edited it. Kana in this story is alive and the one who died was Maki.
FeuWitch - hope you continue to look out for this one though I can't guarantee the usual Tsurara and Rikou moments I often read from other fics. The fact that you read the first chapter and left me a review is already gratifying enough and I understand if you did not add it to your favorite yet. I like your honesty by the way, telling me how you did not yet add this to your fave because it's still new.
Lonely Athena - I am happy that I managed to get your attention by introducing a story delving on beliefs from my place. I would hope that you'd find it interesting enough to stick with the story.
Some events mentioned here really happened and I was witness to some if not a victim a couple of times. It's real creepy just imagining it. I will try my very best to keep you guys interested. Do enjoy the read.
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine.
She found Lady Kyo still sitting on the racking chair, her hands holding the dress she had given her. She smiled. "Have you taken your meal already?" she asked and noticed a few passersby giving her a questioning look. Some recognized her due to her strong resemblance to her mother.
"Yes. Yura dropped here a while ago before she went to fetch you. Such a nice person," she commented and Tsurara was inclined to agree since Yura was really one of the kindest person she ever met. "Come sit with me, Tsurara. Let's wait for Rikuo."
"Would he be your guest?" she asked, not really knowing much about Lady Kyo's family. All she knew, all of which were from accounts of people who knew her, Lady Kyo left town before and came back married to a handsome guy, Nurarihyon. Since it is a small town, rumors about one person can easily be spread. Some suspected that she got knocked off during her college days and that was how they ended up married. Lady Kyo never denied nor confirmed it. But she chose to settle down there until she gave birth to her son, Rihan. Setsura mentioned to Tsurara before that Rihan was a handsome man who felt tied to the town where his mother came from and so he trotted the globe during his college days. You have to take not that Nurarihyon came from a wealthy family and chose to give up his inheritance to live with Kyo in Seles. Rihan lived with his paternal grandparents since college and never came back.
Tsurara had no idea if he ever did when his father died. Lady Kyo turned to her, a warm smile on her lips. "Yes."
"Don't you ever feel lonely here?" she asked and regretted it a moment later.
Despite her old age, Lady Kyo still has a melodious chuckle. "Are you kidding me? I was never alone. They are always around, keeping me company." She tilted her head to glance at Tsurara and smiled kindly. "You know what I mean but then again, you always rejected that part of you."
Thankfully, someone interrupted when a neighbor spoke from the gate. "Lady Kyo – there's a guy looking for you." He motioned his hand towards a young man and his companion and Tsurara frowned before she remembered where she had seen the two of them. Just at the bus station.
She wasn't sure if she imagined it but Lady Kyo sounded like she gasped when she had a sight of the man. She turned to Tsurara. "He looks so much like my husband. That's my grandson." She waved her hand, motioning them to come inside. Lady Kyo forced herself to stand up and so Tsurara had to help her since it's obvious Lady Kyo's knees were wobbly. She even saw the cane she used as a support.
"Good afternoon," the guy said politely, scrutinizing Lady Kyo and for some reason, Tsurara felt enraged that that is all he could manage to give to the old woman who was obviously excited to even have a glimpse of him.
"You look so much like your grandpa," she murmured, trying to reach towards him but the guy stepped back and frowned. There was a disappointed look from Lady Kyo as she let her hands fall at her side before she sighed. Tsurara glanced at her and gave a worried look. "I'm fine Tsurara."
Her voice sounded hurtful and because of that, she could not help but give Rikuo a glare, even her companion who was holding onto his arm as if she's going to lose the guy. He gave her a blank look before he turned to the old woman once more. "I'm going to be brief," his voice sounded so casual. "My father asked me to come here to see you. He does not have much time and traveling is never good for him."
Lady Kyo leaned on her chair and looked ahead. There was an odd look on her face. "I see him over there," she murmured, causing the guy to actually look at her in confusion, not getting what she meant. "You really should not have come here when he's dying already."
"How did you know?" the stranger asked.
"I know things," Lady Kyo answered painfully. "And if it is within my power, I would gladly go with you."
Her statement made the guy speak angrily. "Is that all you can say? Your son is dying – for heaven's sake and he wanted to see you before he goes. Jesus, you never visited him before and when he's dying, you don't even have the will to go to him?"
"Hey now - " Tsurara interrupted fiercely.
The man glared at her. "Stay out of this, miss."
"No! That is not how a grandson should talk to his - "
"Tsurara, it's alright," Lady Kyo's voice stopped her from ranting. She gave Rikuo a gentle look. "I will try to go."
"I have prepared for everything – we're going to take a ride towards the airport immediately." He gave Tsurara a cold look but said nothing. Tsurara glanced at the old woman, anger rising inside her. Does this man really knows what he is doing?
"Tsurara, if you don't mind, I'd like to get inside. Please help me up," the old woman said weakly. Before Tsurara could hold her, the man shoved her to the side and was the one who held the woman up. But instead of letting her walk, he carried her inside while Tsurara stood there.
"He's just tired so I apologize if he appears to be rude," the woman said to get her attention. She smiled kindly. "I'm Kana by the way."
"You already heard my name so I don't see the point repeating it," she said rudely and when the man stepped out, she placed both hands on her hips. "You, mister, I need to talk to you."
"I don't have time to waste on you," he brushed off her attempt, angering Tsurara even more. To his surprise, she held a tight grip on his arms and pulled him towards the garden which was no longer maintained. The flowers have all withered.
"You may not have time to waste with me but I have lots of time to waste my time ranting on you," she started, her voice unusually cold. "First, you treated your grandmother so rudely."
"I don't even see her as my grandmother. It's my first time seeing her," he answered casually and crossed his arms. "Is that all you have to say?"
To his surprise, he found his cheek feeling a stinging pain from her slap which happened so fast. "How cold," she spat at him and turned. "Your father left this town never understanding the need for Lady Kyo to stay here. And here you came after so many years to demand her to travel and see her son for the last time."
"Isn't what a mother is supposed to do? At least she should have the courage to go see my father since she never bothered giving him a visit during his younger days – ever since he started living with my grandparents."
"And you think it was Lady Kyo's fault that she never went - "
"Yes!" he hissed. "My grandfather had the time to drop by, why can't she? So I don't see the point of your rant."
Anger fueling inside her, she raised her hand to deliver another slap but he held her wrist and looked at her coldly. "I am not so forgiving so make sure not to do the same mistake twice."
Tsurara stomped her foot on his though, causing him to release her in surprise. "You rotten despicable jackass, Lady Kyo cannot leave this town. She can't even travel for more than five kilometers without suffering the consequences!" She raised her chin at his confused look. "At least before you blamed her, why not ask the circumstances that held her here?" With that she left him gaping at her in surprise. She ignored Kana's looks and went inside.
Rikuo remained on his spot. Just what the hell did that mean? "Are you alright?" Kana asked and held his cheek.
He nodded and forced a smile. "Yes."
Kana looked around the house and shuddered. Being a city girl, she found the place too boring for her. "This place is too quiet. When do we leave?"
Rikuo could not understand but he he suddenly decided to postpone their departure for two days. He wanted to know what that woman was talking about. They saw a car parked near their car and saw a woman step down, carrying a bag of foods perhaps. "Who could she be?" Kana asked.
"Who knows," he answered and walked towards the main door when he stopped to listen at the conversation which was too loud for him to hear. He turned to Kana and shrugged.
"I thought Lady Kyo has some visitors? I don't see them around, though I see a car parked outside," Yura aksed while looking around. She found her friend standing on the main door, obviously pissed and Yura does not want to get on the bad side of her friend.
"Visitors my ass! I swear, he is the coldest bastard I have ever met!"
"Eh?" She sat on the steps.
Furiously, Tsurara sat beside her. "You know, I sometimes wondered before if my mother's friend ever knew about his mother. I'm pretty sure, Old Nurarihyon knew which was why he decided to live with her here and never insisted on convincing her to live in the city."
"Did something happen a while ago?" Yura asked.
"I can't believe he treated Lady Kyo like she's not a family. And he had the galls to blame her for never visiting her son. If only he knew why..."
At that, Yura looked at her. "Oh yes. I understand. How about you, Tsurara? You managed to live abroad for seven years - "
"Yura, I never embraced what I have. I denied what I am and I rejected it every time it happens – the pain."
Yura nodded in understanding. Rejecting what she has, Tsurara has to suffer the pain that comes with it. In Seles, people believed that those unseen gave those abilities to special people and expected them to actually make use of it properly. Rejecting it means suffering from considerable pain. She did not even want to imagine what pain her friend went through.
"I should try to convice Lady Kyo to not go. God knows what will happen to her along the way."
"The unseen tied her here. My brother said that the reason Lady Kyo returned here shortly after college was because of it. She's been suffering from different sickness and that's why she chose to come back here instead. Old Nurarihyon said that she almost died."
"It's like a punishment from the guardians of nature." She stiffened when she spotted someone standing on the gate. It was a guy and he was staring at her. She blinked and turned to Yura. "Did you see that guy?" she pointed towards the gate. "I always saw him around, popping out from time to time."
Yura gave her that look. "There's no one else there. Must be your ability working," she said. "I better get inside and see Lady Kyo. She really is going?"
Tsurara shook her head slowly. "I don't know. She said she can already see her son here. That's why she sounded reluctant to go."
"Don't tell me..." Yura's voice trailed off and she glanced inside. Lady Kyo was resting on the sofa.
"Yes. It's a matter of time. I doubt she can even reach in time," she said. They heard a soft voice coming from inside and both women stood up immediately. Lady Kyo motioned for the two of them to sit down.
"I can hear the two of you, you know," she mused before she sat down once again. There was a tear trickling down her right cheek. "There's a beautiful woman with black hair – she already called him."
Because they always hang around her before, they knew what she was talking about. "He's gone?"
Tsurara reached for the old woman when she started shaking, the obvious sign that she's in distress, that she is in pain too, that she felt regretful for never seeing her son when he grew up. In Tsurara's arms, Lady Kyo cried. "I am sorry," she whispered.
The footsteps they heard made Yura and Tsurara raise their heads to see Rikou and his companion looking at them. There was an obvious pain in his eyes as he gripped his phone tightly on his left hand, the woman holding his arm as well.
Aside from the grief, there was a questioning look on their eyes. Perhaps they are wondering how the three of them figured it out. Then Tsurara started to shiver. "Are you alright, Tsurara?" Lady Kyo asked and pulled away. For some reason, Tsurara felt suddenly cold and she held her throat, her free hand reaching for Yura. "I...can't...breath," she choked.
"Oh my god," Yura exclaimed and stood up. She immediately helped her friend lie on the sofa before turning to Lady Kyo. "What's happening to her?"
Lady Kyo had forgotten her grief momentarily and focused on Tsurara. She raised her hand to silence her. "Yura, go get the oil. Make it quick," she ordered as Tsurara continued shivering and holding her hands close to her body.
Rikou heard the entirety of the conversation and he could not help but feel curious about what they were talking about. It seemed impossible. He even started to wonder how much of his grandparents words were true concerning his grandmother, Lady Kyo. Base from the conversation he heard, there is a deeper reason that they would not wish to share with strangers.
Then he received that call that his father passed away thirty minutes. They've been trying to contact him earlier but he was out of reach. He ran inside to inform Lady Kyo but he caught the conversation and he once again wondered how she knew about it. Before he could ask, something happened to that woman as she started shaking and gasping for breath.
The other woman already ran towards the cabinet and came back with a bottle of oil. Lady Kyo turned to them and spoke softly. "Please, I will ask you to step outside for the moment."
"But - "
"Yu...ra...c-can't...breath," the woman said once more and the one named Yura knelt down and held Tsurara's hands as Lady Kyo applied some oil and started massaging the woman while murmurming something. From time to time, she caught him yawning shamelessly, her eyelids seemed to droop anytime soon but she kept on.
Unconsciously, he walked towards the one named Tsurara and saw her crying while gasping for breath. "It's going to be alright," Yura was assuring her. Rikuo stared at the face contorted in pain and wondered where he had seen her before. He's so sure she looked so familiar.
The house was quiet for fifteen minutes except for the sobs coming from Tsurara and the soft murmurs coming from Lady Kyo. It did not even occur to Rikou that Tsurara's shirt was raised up so her whole torso was exposed. After another beat, Lady Kyo pulled Tsurara's shirt down and sighed at the sleeping figure of Tsurara.
"What happened?" Kana asked.
Yura stood up and searched for anything to use as additional cover for her friend before she sat down and wiped the sweat from her friend's face. She wondered how many times Tsurara had suffered like this?
"Maki never really rest in peace," Lady Kyo whispered.
"Who's Maki?" Kana asked again, equally curious like Rikou. It seems this town is full of creepy things. No wonder Rikou's father never felt staying here.
Her question was ignored when Lady Kyo turned to Yura. "Yura, you and Tsurara should go visit her grave and bring something to appease her."
"So it was Maki's doing?" Yura asked.
Lady Kyo nodded absentmindedly. "Tsurara must have met her while coming here but never saw her. Maybe that's why Maki was angry."
The two had forgotten that there were audiences listening to their conversation. "You're not new to this, Yura since you felt the same when you met the spirit of a distant relative who died due to poison. You've suffered for stomach ache and you never stopped vomitting."
Yura sighed. "It pains me to know that Tsurara always has to suffer. She's a magnet to spirits. She said she saw some guy outside just a while ago."
Lady Kyo glanced at Tsurara once more. "She's indeed a magnet to them. But she should refrain from taking whatever is given. If she did, she already sold her soul to them." This time, she forced herself up and turned to Rikuo who looked more and more confused. "I supposed your very first visit in Seles, you got to witness something."
He nodded. "What the hell was that all about?" he asked.
She smiled. "I am sorry but we don't disclose details so openly. It's to protect us." She gave a weak smile. "I feel pain knowing Rihan died without even me going there. Do you want to talk about it?" She gave Kana a discreet glance. "Privately though."
Rikuo's face was serious. "Yes. As much as possible, I'd like to know why you never went there."
"Then stay for a week. It wouldn't be a bad request, would it? At least, let me make up with my misgivings," Lady Kyo sounded so casual but Yura could not mistake the pain behind her voice. Pain of knowing she never got to see her son on his last moments.
Kana stepped in front. "I'm sorry but Rikuo and I are busy and can't afford for - "
"That's not for you to decide, young lady," Lady Kyo said crisply and gave her grandson a challenging look. "What do you say?"
Rikuo met her stern gaze equally before he nodded and turned to Kana. "Kana, I'll drive you to the bus station."
She looked offended but said nothing. She nodded reluctantly though. "Well, I'd like to leave early in the morning then."
He only nodded before he shifted his gaze at the woman who stirred and woke up a few minutes later. "Damn, Maki, I swear, she turned so mean," she muttered.
"Tsurara?" Yura asked questioningly.
"You've been lured into their world again, weren't you?" Lady Kyo asked seriously, though her voice was a whisper, preventing the others to hear.
"And I'm thoroughly pissed right now," she muttered and sat up. "I thought I was a goner."
"Well, you easily attract them, what can I say?" Yura mused. She wondered if there ever was a protection against occurrences like these.
She stood up and sighed. "Thanks Lady Kyo."
"It's my duty anyway so you don't have to thank me," she said and turned to Rikou. "You're going to stay here tonight?"
"Yes, and I'd like to know more about you," he said seriously. "I don't want anyone - " at that, he gave Tsurara another detached look, " - to even think that I am such a heartless bastard. I want to hear your side of the story."
Lady Kyo stared at her for a very long moment before she smiled softly. "Thank you." She turned to Tsurara and Yura. "These ladies here are Tsurara and Yura."
"Pfft," Tsurara snorted.
Yura only nodded.
"This one is Kana and she's my fiancee," he introduced the woman beside him. "I'm pretty sure I sounded rude a while ago so please allow me to apologize for that. It was never my intention to come here blaming you."
"When you speak that way, you sound so much like Nurarihyon."
"Well, since they are here, we can leave you to catch up with the lost times," Yura said, assisting Tsurara who swayed a little when she moved. "Easy there."
"I'm fine." She gave Lady Kyo a nod. "See you tomorrow."
"Yes." Lady Kyo watched as Tsurara and Yura walked away then called them when they were on the doorway. "It was your mother, right?" she asked. The guests remained clueless as to what was being talked about. Tsurara gave a slow nod.
"Yes."
"She's still worrying about you," she said.
Rikuo wondered why his grandmother refused to talk about what he wanted to know while in the presence of Kana. But she did talk about his father – telling him stories about Rihan when he was a child. Kana and him could only listen.
"He was full of mischief."
He cannot mistake that wistful tone as she talked about her son and he suddenly felt guilt crept inside him. The old woman in front of him does not even look like a woman who never missed her son. In her eyes, you can read the grief and regret.
She chuckled a little. "He was so full of pranks that he often dragged poor Setsura with him. They were like the best of friends."
He cleared his throat. "Why did he leave and never came back?"
She gave them both a look before she closed her eyes. "He's a man of free will. Seles is a town where people felt the need to be tied to their old beliefs and he found it stupid so he ran away, leaving a letter telling us he's never coming back. If he did, he might only end up disrespecting the customs here."
Kana could hear the crickets outside and shuddered at the eerie feeling. "Your place, I mean this town is creepy," she said offhandedly, earning a pointed look from the old woman. Rikuo only gave her a warning glare. She rolled her eyes, ignoring the former and responding to the latter. "What? It's too quiet that it gives you the creep."
"Technically, it's not as quiet as you think it is. You can hear the crickets," he pointed out.
"Whatever you say," she relented. "Can we go to bed now? It's like ten already."
"You can go ahead. I'll follow later," he said and Kana had to bite back her tongue from arguing. Getting on Rikou's bad side is something she does not want to happen. She stood up and glanced at Lady Kyo.
"Good night."
Lady Kyo only nodded and turned to her grandson when Kana's out of earshot. "Typical city girl," she muttered with a subtle dislike. Before Rikuo could argue, she went back to the topic on hand. "Rihan was a man who believes in logic and things that could be explained by science. His beliefs were always contradicted by the elders of this town so he left furiously." She smiled again. "For him, there's no logic behind offering pigs and chickens to appease the gods."
The last remark made Rikuo look at her in confusion. "Gods?"
"That's correct. The gods that rule this place, the nature itself and even the unseen." She raised her wrinkled brow and caressed her arm. "But of course, you won't believe me, right? You came from the city after all."
"Try me. I am a writer so I am not narrow-minded as you first believe. I write different on different genres - whether fiction or not - so the 'impossible stuffs' are nothing new to me. I heard about the folklores of different countries and studied them too. What I will learn from you here will be nothing different."
"Words are meaningless," she waved him off. "You just get to see it happen. That's how you'll believe it. Rihan never mentioned anything about this, yes?"
He shook his head. "No."
"Please understand that I tried to go visit him once but your grandfather had to return me back when we were halfway."
"Why?"
"Because shamans tied to the gods cannot leave the place they were tied into. That's why I did not get to finish college. I endured the pains when I first left town but it just got worse so I have to return. At that time, I already met your grandfather and really fell in love with him." There was a look of distaste on her eyes that vanished as quick as it appeared. "His parents never really liked a county girl for their son and he chose me over them. For that I loved him even more."
There was the obvious love in her eyes, the passion in her voice as she mentioned his grandfather. Then he realized he just heard something that are not possible in the city. "You're a shaman?" he asked.
"I am."
At least before you blamed her, why not ask the circumstances that held her here. Those were the words of that Tsurara. He struggled with the decision whether to apologize or not but it would seem she read his thoughts because she spoke.
"You don't have to apologize about a while ago. There is no way you could have known."
he shook his head once and looked outside the window. It suddenly felt awkward to talk to her now, hearing her short side of the story. "But why did dad never talk about it?"
"Because he chose not to. And I know about it because he told Nurarihyon. It's up to you to find out things on your own. He doesn't want to influence you should you ever decide to come visit here. Apparently, this is your first time."
"I've been busy," he justified. But was he truly that busy that he never bothered finding out his other grandmother? It felt wrong. If he was truly interested then he had all the time to drop by. He chuckled bitterly. Perhaps, he was made to believe that Lady Kyo is a worthless grandmother. That's what his paternal side always told him.
When she did not respond, he looked around and saw her just staring at him. He was interrupted by a loud banging on the door though. Noting that she's too weak to even move, he motioned for her to sit still and he'll go see the visitor.
He was met with a young man, probably around his age, looking frantic as he gasped for breath. "Lady Kyo – is she inside?"
"Ah Kiyo, is there something you need?" she asked from her position. Rikuo gave way and allowed the guest to enter. Said guy immediately walked towards her and fell on his knees. "Gyuki has passed away."
The news did not seem to surprise her as she only closed her eyes and spoke with regret. "So it was Gyuki after all..." she muttered.
"What do you mean?"
"That's for the elders to talk about, young man," she answered. "I will go there tomorrow. I cannot do anything even if I go. Besides, I just spent my energy on Tsurara."
"Tsurara is back?" he asked.
"Yes. When will his death be announced?"
"They said they'll wait for Gozu. His adoptive brother already contacted him. Gozu said he'll call just as soon as he was given permission to take a leave." he stood up. "I shall take my leave then."
"Are there any shamans around?" she inquired.
"Mr. Karasu's wife is there."
Lady Kyo nodded. "She can handle things." The guest left and Rikuo found his voice and asked.
"What do you mean 'announced'?" he sat in front of her now, holding her hands unconsciously.
"It means the signal for other people to come and pay their respect to him – after family members first as well as the spirits residing here."
"Huh?"
she yawned. "I cannot tell you everything in one night, Rikou. You'll have to learn things as they happen. I will leave Tsurara to explain things to you."
"That woman?" he asked in a voice laced with distaste.
"You will treat her well," her tone was sharp when she spoke those words. "I am going to sleep now. Go and see your woman and just rest. You have to bring her to the station, tomorrow morning."
She found herself standing in front of a wonderful cottage surrounded by lilies. She could see few houses nearby but other than that, she could see nothing in the vast plane. How many times had she been here anyway? She couldn't count it on her fingers but she knew she had always been here.
"You can come inside the house," a voice spoke and a man in white shirt and simple jeans appeared beside her. Turning around, she first sought his face to identify him. After all, this would be the first time she had spoken to anyone.
"W-Who are you?" she asked and took a few steps back when he offered his hand.
"I will become your husband," he declared causing Tsurara to fall back in surprise. "Come now, they are all waiting for us. Even your dear friend, Maki."
"You know Maki?" she asked and glanced at the house. Is her friend truly there? If she is, then she can go inside and talk to her, apologize because she did not get to see her a while ago. Her friend is still probably angry.
He nodded carefully. "Yes. Shall we go?"
she did not take his hand yet and gave him a skeptical look. "I always see you around – in fact, you look like that boy who saved me and Tori before."
He nodded. "I was that boy. I grew up. Just like humans, we grow up too."
She took note of that little information. "You do?"
He gave her a sad smile. "You truly refused to learn all about us, huh? Everyone here knows that even 'us' grows old. A one-month old baby who died recently can already learn to walk and run in just a few weeks." He sounded as though he was lecturing her.
Her lips curved into a curt smile. "Well..."
"Shall we get inside now?" he repeated, his arms still extended, offering his hand for her to take.
Tsurara stared at his face, noting the sincerity in his eyes so she reluctantly started to reach out to him when an unfamiliar voice intervened, and she dropped her hands at her side, looking around. She could make out an outline of a guy but she could not clearly see his face.
"Do not go there."
"Who are you?" she asked and glanced at the man she was talking with earlier to find him slipping away. "W-Wait, what's your name?"
He vanished into the house without answering her question. When Tsurara focused on the newcomer, she found the guy gone as well. The next thing she knew, she's hearing her name.
"Tsurara!"
Her eyes shot open and her body jolted up before she realized she was in her room. She gasped for breath. "God, I was trying to wake you up fifteen times."
"Fifteen times?" she asked and glanced at her watch. It is still three in the morning – the devil's hour as they all call it. This is the time that most spiris wander around, where every spirit is active.
"I heard you murmuring in your sleep," Yura said and handed her a glass of water. I ran towards the kitchen immediately after I realized that you might be having a nightmare."
She drank the whole content, feeling her throat parched. "Thanks. I was just whisked into the other world. You remember that guy I saw earlier in front of Lady Kyo's house? It was him."
"Spare me the details. Much as I want to hear about it, I don't think my mind can function enough right now. I'm still trying to come to terms over the fact that you almost died a while ago."
"I need to visit Maki's grave tomorrow morning. What do you think is a good peace offering?"
This time, Yura sighed. "You can't always appease every spirit left in this netherworld. Sure, without offering anything they will just come back and cause more pain. But really, you can't live your life always appeasing the unseen."
Tsurara lied down once more. "But that's how it goes here right? You can't help but offer anything especially when the one you've actually offended is not the spirit of a dead but the spirit of nature."
yura glanced at her and sighed. "I worry about you."
"Please don't."
"You do realize by the way that you've lost weight."
Tsurara chuckled. "Must be diet."
"Doubt it."
"I've been lacking sleep for the past two months. The longest hour I have slept within that time span was three hours. I've been trying to find means to get me to sleep but it did not have any effect at all. Only a while ago."
"Maybe you are just lonely."
Tsurara doubted it. "Maybe." She does not want to add more worries for her friend.
There are those unfortunate normal humans who always ended up having to suffer like Tsurara. The shamans from my place are the ones responsible for communicating with the spirits of the dead and at the same time relaying the message from them. Some spirits of those who died never truly felt solace and thus always wandered. It is believed that they co-exist with us and they have their own version of our world. Anyway, if you're unlucky and you got to bump into one of them, you'll suffer the pain they felt when they died. If you're so unlucky, it might be the cause of your own death although chances of that ever happening is so slim. That's because there are always a number of shamans available. In effect though, they can only heal one.
Anyway, there are also those mean spirits who wanted to play pranks. If they happened to have touched your foot, you'll be suffering from no ordinary 'swelling' and it has to take some offerings to those spirits before you get healed. Doctors are rarely helpful in cases like these because it tends to worsen 'whatever sort of injury' was given to you.
While there are mean spirits, there are those who only chose to make their presence known since they have been forgotten far too long. Mostly, this is done by relatives, distant or not. Although their intention is only to be remembered, the person affected will still suffer the same feelings they felt when they died - if that person died due to suicide (say for example drinking something toxic) then you'll feel as if you were just poisoned too. That's how it goes in there. Kinda freaky huh?