I am sorry for the late update. I've been busy lately. Anyway, here is the third chapter. I decided to use our own terminologies so as to make it easier for me. At least, if someone from my place happened to stumble upon this, he'll make the connection easily. Here are lists of some terms you might see:

anito – spirit

en-sup-ok – shaman

leng-ag – soul of a living wandering in the spirit land

inumchan – the time when during a dead's wake, the spirits of the dead would come home

nifaag – this one refers to one mentioned in chapter two, where the dead will be 'announced'

sangachil – , the death chair, a high-back with low seat made especially for a dead

eyew – an example to this would be what happened with Tsurara from the previous chapter.

Take not that although this is based from my place's custom, I made some variations (slight variations) to fit the story.

On to the reviewers: I really thank you all for taking your time to review.

Nightingale27 - glad your liked it. No, I haven't watched Spirited Away though I heard about it. Perhaps when I have more free time, I'll go buy a dvd of that one and try watching it.

AoHana9 - hey, I have nothing to say since I already said it in my PM but anyway, glad you liked this one and hope to see your name around. Like I have said, there are still more I haven't mentioned yet.

Suki90 - thanks so much. I'm glad you like how I characterized them.

KoNan03 - yep, Rikuo here will be the Rikuo in yokai form. Not the human form. And yes, Lady kyo is Youhime.

FeuWitch - thank you very much. I hope I did not offend you from my last update. I tend to get to that sometimes without realizing it.

Lonely Athena - coming from a reviewer like you and the rest, I'm really glad I am able to pull Chapter 2. Thank you very much for the positive review. And yes, Kana will be the typical city girl.

Rika23ONROOF - hmm, yes, Lady Kyo is Youhime, and Kana is Rikuo's fiancee though as mentioned in this update, their relationship is in trouble even before they arrived. As to reasons, perhaps it will be stated later. I actually also like Tsurara and Yura friendship. I'm hoping I could see that in the manga. And yes, you definitely left a wonderful review, thank you very much.

i'm sweetly insane - haha, yes, it's really quite creepy, don't you think? still, I am happy that you like it.

rikary - whew, I am really happy that just like the rest, you find this intriguing enough and that you also liked how I portrayed their characters. It is my personal belief that you can create a wonderful characterization and not necessary canon as long as it fits the purpose of the story. I dearly hope I will not screw this up in the future. So, thanks for the wonderful review.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters mentioned in this story.

Kana glanced at her fiance who was simply staring at the ceiling. It had been an hour after he came in, after he talked with his grandmother. And one look from him meant something changed. There was no longer the embittered look which he possessed before they arrived in this creepy place. "What are you thinking?" she asked carefully. Her relationship with him for the past few months have been...different. Something about him changed and she wouldn't deny that she had no fault in the matter. It's because she knew it was partly her fault that he's giving a cold shoulder that she was trying her best to salvage her relationship even if it means coming to this creepy place and endure.

"My father died a while ago. My paternal grandparents were already dead. I wanted to go back and see to my father's funeral but I cannot leave my grandmother here," it did not escape Kana's notice that he called the old woman his grandmother. Something indeed changed about him so suddenly. "That's why I called Ao earlier and gave him direction. He'll arrange for my father's body to be brought here. That's the only thing I can do for her."

Kana encircled her hand around his waist and nuzzled to his chest. He did not return the affectionate hug though and simply stared there. "That other woman – she looked familiar," he stated. Kana frowned. Rikuo was never one to talk about other women in front of her since he knew she's kind of the jealous type. If she's referring to the long-haired woman earlier, Kana definitely did not like her especially when she raised her hands on her fiance.

"You met her before?" she asked, just to keep the conversation going.

"No. She just looks familiar, that's all," he answered and finally closed his eyes.

"So I won't be going back as planned?" she asked hopefully. Like she said, she'll endure if only to get his full affection once more.

"You can stay if you want to but keep your comments to yourself if you witnessed something," perhaps he still remembered how she called this place 'freaky'. "I will probably stay here longer than planned. I've taken a sudden interest in this place."

Kana bit her lip. "I see."

Tsurara stood with her friend beside her in front of the tombstone that has Maki's name on it. She sighed and sat on her knees as she lit one candle. "Hey Maki," she started. "Been seven years. I bet you felt lonely huh? Tori and I never visited you and for that, I am sorry."

Yura sat beside her and lit her own candle. Tsurara continued talking. "Maki, please understand that we never forgot about you even if we never visited this grave. And damn it, you almost killed me yesterday. Do that once more and I will never pay you another visit, I swear that on this grave. And I will throw salt here and everything if you continue doing that."

The short-haired woman can't help but chuckle at Tsurara's words. But she knew that the dead will honor her words. After all, the dead never wanted their graves defiled. She knew Tsurara will never have it in her heart to defile Maki's grave, but it helps to threaten from some time to time. The two said their silent prayers before they both stood up.

"Let's go," Yura said. They were set to meet Ryuji today and his soon-to-be bride. They walked quietly as they passed by the bridge. Tsurara looked down on the still water below.

"Too bad you're a disaster when it comes to the water," Yura commented and looked down as well. "It feels nostalgic, just looking down at it and remembering the happy memories shared there."

Tsurara smiled. She could not agree more. "Wish Tori's here," she muttered.

"Tori never liked being bound to this place's custom. You know that. In a way, she's like Uncle Rihan – Lady Kyo's son. I had Ryuji tell me about him from what he could remember and it seems him and Tori are alike in the sense that they don't want to be bound here."

"That's what I felt too but I can never turn my back from this place, honestly," Tsurara admitted. She continued looking down at the water.

"Hey, don't you think Lady Kyo's grandson is handsome?" Yura suggested and risked a glance at Tsurara. Expectedly, her friend huffed at the mention of the guy.

"So?"

"You ever heard about the story of Aunt Setsura and Uncle Rihan? The people who saw them grew up always thought the two would end up together," she started, trying to insinuate something.

Tsurara rolled her eyes. "Don't even think of actually pairing me up with the grandson just because the town's hope was crushed when Uncle Rihan left this place. Besides, I don't think I have it in me to enter into another relationship which is doomed to fail in the end." There was a bitter taste left in her mouth as she spoke. "My relationship with men never lasted a month all because they thought I am crazy or something else."

Yura glanced at her friend and spotted a car a distant away. "You mean, you told them about your ability to 'see'?" Why would she do that?

"Yes. Unfortunately, I was labeled crazy or a freak. I told them about myself to see if they could accept every part of me but well..." she trailed off and only shrugged her shoulders carelessly.

The short-haired sighed. "You're looking for someone from far away to accept you for what you are. Perhaps from there, you can settle down and never wish to return here. Isn't that right?" she asked, knowing her friend too well.

"Sort of." Tsurara glanced at her watch. "We better go see your brother or he'll chop our heads off for being late."

Her friend laughed at that, knowing Ryuji's temper. "Definitely right."

Rihan's body arrived earlier than expected. Ao sure works efficiently. The moment, the car parked inside the house, Lady Kyo, who was told about the body being brought home, broke down and cried at the doorway while the neighbors immediatley worked.

"Thank you so much, Ao," he thanked the man as he watched the neighbors actually gather around, some putting chairs at the garden. The elderly men gathered and discussed something in words he could hardly understand. It was probably the place's dialect.

The women who arrived helped with things inside and for the first time in his life, Rikuo actually felt clueless on what to do. "It's nothing. You weren't there when he breathed his last but his last words were words of apology."

Rikuo nodded. "How about Kuro? He did not come?" he asked, normally finding Kuro always with Ao when it involves travelling.

Ao scratched his chin. "Well, he made mention about convincing his girlfriend to come here after learning she's from this place. Tori was reluctant so Kuro had to stay behind to convince her."

His eyes widened a little in surprise but it was Kana who appeared behind who vocalized his thoughts. "Eh? Tori is from here?"

"So she said." Ao watched the people working and shrugged. Someone approached the three of them.

"Ah, I understand you are the grandson. We're wondering if there is someone else you're waiting – any more relative to come?" the elderly man asked.

"None."

"I see. Since your grandmother is inside and keening, we'd like to ask you for your decision. How do you want his wake to go? The Christian way or the customary practice here?"

"You mean there are still things like that to decide upon?" Ao asked, surprised at the process going about.

The man nodded. "Yes. I'm Hihi by the way. Anyway, if we do it the Christian way, we'll not butcher anything for the ritual but - "

"Do it your way here," Rikuo decided and glanced inside. "I know my father never believed in this place's customs but I am pretty sure he wouldn't mind."

hihi stared at him for a moment before he nodded. "I see. You should probably get inside and discuss with your grandmother the ways to do this."

"Thanks. I will follow in a minute," Rikuo nodded and turned to Kana and Ao. "I have to leave you two for a while. While you are at it, see if you can help with anything – expenses maybe and anything." he left immediately after that and went inside where the people nodded at him for acknowledgment. He found his father's body on the bed placed in the living room. He learned that they cannot just place him in a coffin yet.

His grandmother was seated near him, holding his hand. "Rihan! Ensakit ai semken ay han en-ilaan ta kasin mat-awan nan angsan ay tawen ya kagtuna ay umey ka et." she keened and he had to look away, the scene breaking his heart. Why did he ever think she never thought of her son once? The woman in front of him is not a picture of a woman who never thought of her son. She's a picture of a woman filled with so much regret, so much grief.

He felt sad that his father died but he had been expecting it already ever since his father told him he is dying. Perhaps Rihan prepared his son for the grief to come so now that he is dead, Rikuo had already come to terms to it and he can mourn quietly.

"You look so much like Nurarihyon and Rihan combined," an elder man approached him. "I am an old friend of your grandparents. Karasu Tengu," he introduced and held his shoulder casually. "It's the first time after a very long time since Lady Kyo keened like that."

the younger man cannot find the right words to respond to that so he only nodded. Karasu Tengu smiled. "I am positive she needed those two girls."

"Two girls?" he asked and a picture of two ladies appeared in his mind – one with short hair and the other, longer hair.

Karasu Tengu nodded. "Yes. The two had been like her own grandchildren. Tori too. But no one ever heard from Tori."

Rikuo gave a wan smile about how small the world is. To think that Tori actually knew his grandmother too. "Tori will be coming I think," he announced, earning a surprised look from the older man. "She's my aide's girlfriend and they will be coming here later today." he is positive Kuro will convince her anyway.

"I see. See how the fate works – the world is really small," he noted. "Well, Lady Kyo left it to you decide things here. First, do you want him on coffin during wake or..." he trailed when Rikuo looked at him with confusion.

"Aren't dead people supposed to be in a coffin?" he asked with a blink.

Karasu Tengu smiled once more. "It's different here. There are two ways – one is to let the dead lie down in a coffin or let him sit up in a sangachil."

"What's that?" he asked.

"It's a high-back chair with a low seat made especially for the dead. There are various reasons for things like these though. It is still up to you to decide in the end."

"What's the difference between the two?" he asked, having never heard of something like this before.

This time, Tengu smiled once more. "Do you know your grandmother descended from a kachangyan family? Although this place is starting to be urbanized as well, many chose to stick with their custom. And in here, you'll find that the people here defines wealth not on money but on number of lands you possess. the kachangyan people are the equivalent of the rich. Normally, the kachangyan are bound to the death chair or sangachil as we call it here. But times change and some preferred to be placed in a coffin instead during a wake."

Rikuo processed the information in his mind. He glanced at his grandmother. "The coffin will do. That is much I can do for my father who rejected this customs."

"I see. Your request will be honored. There are other reasons for this place to put a dead in a death chair instead of a coffin. Perhaps you will learn it someday."

"Thank you very much," Rikuo said and sighed as Karasu Tengu left. He learned that people here would not shed a tear for old people as much as possible. It's their common beliefs that old people die and shall soon be placed in the earth, and soon, the other old people left will soon follow. He shook his head. It is too complicated for him to process things all at once.

He'll have to inquire about the sangachil thing when given the chance. He was about to move from his spot when he sensed a presence from behind and he spotted the two ladies yesterday. Immeidately, they went towards his grandmother and from where he stood, he watched as they hugged her, as the older woman sought strength from them.

For a moment, he felt envious over the fact that they have more connection with her than him who was supposed to be the grandson. But then again, who was he to blame? He never made any attempt to come visit her before.

The death of Rihan had already been announced and more older people came the following day. He heard that people from the small town had been split in two as the others went to sing for Gyuki first. Speaking of sing, he is listening to a weird song from the older women gathered around the coffin, they stood together as they swayed, each holding each other's waist and sang together to a lullaby that is foreign to him.

Kana and Ao were already resting upstairs and a while ago, Kuro arrived with Tori. The latter immediately went to where the dead lies and she cried there, wailed and keened. He couldn't blame Tori. She was close to his father. She was treated like his own daughter too. He couldn't help but wonder though if his father knew where Tori came from.

"That's called ay-yeng," the woman, Yura, spoke from beside him. It is the second night of the wake and she and Tsurara had been helping around. He now understood that in this place, at least one should remain looking out for the dead while the others sleep. The dead should never be left unattended.

"Hah?" he asked, finding it difficult to pronounce the word.

Yura smiled. "Ay-yeng. Even I can't understand them – it's probably only them who could understand the meaning behind the song. It is a dialect so old that only those who grew up in the older times know that. Is it alright for you to be here? You should probably rest a little."

he was actually sitting near his grandmother who never left the coffin's side. She was now wearing black. "I'll be alright here."

Yura handed him a cup which she, Tsurara and Tori had been distributing around the people who came to pay their respect for the dead and sing for him as well. He also learned that the dead's wake is counted with night considered as one day and the longest would be seven days which rarely happens. Normally for them, the wake takes only three days and the shortest probably would be a day which applies to those who died young (teens, children).

"Thanks," he muttered. Yura only nodded and left to serve coffee to the others. A few moments later, Tori arrived with a kettle and filled his cup with coffee. So this is how it is done here. "Your eyes are puffy, Tori."

"I'm going to miss Uncle Rihan," she admitted. "And I also cried for Lady Kyo. I never really knew she was his mother."

Rikuo only nodded and Tori proceeded to fill the other's cup with coffee. Next who came to him was Tsurara who offered biscuit to go along with the coffee. He surmised she was still mad at him. He'll admit they started on the wrong foot and the fault was his. First impression lasts huh? He took a few cookies from the bag and muttered his thanks. He could not help but watch as she walked away saying a word.

Really, he's intrigued. She's like a total mystery to him and he wanted to know more about him – perhaps to satisfy his curiosity. There's something about her that makes him want to know more. He looked around. There are people singing to the dead, there are those simply sitting down, keeping the dead company and from outside, he could hear the younger men who were playing cards. According to Hihi, this is already part of it – that men play cards and drink outside to pass time.

As to the singing part, there were at least about four groups who came alternately to sing for the dead. Not that he minded it. And amidst what Yura called the ay-yeng, his grandmother's keen mixed with it, making the sound more eerie. A few feet from the coffin, there's a small fire lit there in what they call the chalikan. Truthfully, he couldn't stand the smell of the meat from a big being cooked there. Was it Hihi or Tengu who mentioned to him that the one being cooked inside, near the coffin, is something that the family members are required to it. Still, he received no explanation about it yet. He swallowed hard, trying to imagine himself eating that meat which is starting to smell so bad.

Also, since his grandmother had no other relatives, some of the rice and meat cooked for the people who came were done in the neighbor's house. Those who came to pay their respect were asked to eat at the neighbor's house as a sign of thanks. There are also those who came and offered cans of biscuits, bags of candy, a case of gin. All of which are intended for the bereaved family to use for the guests.

Such a complicated custom.

He spotted Tsurara walking outside the house and he made a move to follow her if only to apologize for his behavior before. He spotted her going at the neighbor's house. She was holding one kettle and a basket of used cups. She's probably returning there to wash them to be used later again when it is time for coffee.

Quietly, he followed her and saw her washing the cups quietly.

"Tsurara, do you think Tori will stay longer?" one female asked as she took the kettle which was already washed.

Tsurara shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe or maybe not. It's up for Tori."

"She never visited Maki's grave yet. You think Maki will get angry?"

"Hope not. It's enough that she came to me the other day."

the statement made the female stare at Tsurara. "Again? Seriously, Tsurara, you're a magnet to those unseen. And you're always a disaster around water."

"Uh-huh. It is not like I welcome it. But if they came, there's nothing I can do."

Rikuo heard that name, Maki. Yes, it was mentioned after Tsurara had almost died there in what he now learned as eyew. Seriously, there are things happening here that are quite hard for the mind to accept. When he saw the female leave Tsurara, he decided to approach her.

"Hi."

she glanced over her shoulder. "What do you want?" she asked casually, her hands busy washing the cups.

"I realized I have not apologized yet so I came for that," he started and walked towards her front so he could see her clearly. "I am sorry."

she stopped moving and raised her hand to meet his gaze. "I have a feeling we will be seeing each other more often after this, since you are close to my grandmother."

she gave him a derisive look. "And now you suddenly called her your grandmother when the first time you came here, you vehemently denied it."

Rikuo sighed. He knew this will not be easy. "I already apologized for that. It was my mistake and I am admitting it."

"Good," she wiped her hands with the extra cloth hanging over her shoulder. "Lady Kyo deserved more than that you know. In any case, at least you had the sense to bring his corpse here."

She really does not like him, he thought with a smirk. He stood up when she did. "It's the least I can do for her. To see her son for the last time. Are you getting back there? Let's go."

A blank stare then she nodded. "I'm not really that bitchy but my impression of you is that you're a brute that's why," she said after a moment of silence before she slipped into the group of ladies. He followed her with his eyes before he shook his head.

Kuro appeared beside him. Rikuo noticed that he blended well with the people. Perhaps because this is Tori's hometown and he wanted to know more about Tori. "I heard that the beliefs regarding a death is split in two. I was hanging with old man Hihi when they started talking about Sir Rihan's death."

Curious, Rikuo glanced at seems people do not mind if they talk about it within earshot. Kuro yawned, showing sign of exhaustion from the long ride here. "Clinically, your father died due to cancer right? But in people's belief here, his leng-ag was called upon."

"Leng – what?" he repeated.

Kuro smirked at his difficulty in pronouncing the word. "It's equivalent to a living's soul who wandered in the land of the unseen. From what the elders are talking about, it seems someone called him." Kuro had a thoughtful look. "Come to think of it, his death was earlier than expected."

"There's a woman who called him – one with black hair." A handsome man who was about their age appeared.

"Who could she be?"

"A spirit of a dead – a loved one. Perhaps, she had been waiting for so long for him or perhaps she doesn't want to see him suffer anymore. So she called him. No one stopped Rihan and he followed. My name is Kubanishi. You'll probably find this confusing because you lived all your life in the city."

A loved one? His mother had brown hair and definitely not black so he wondered who she could be. Rikuo wanted to know more about the woman who called his father's soul but held his tongue back. There will be a time to answer all of that. "Not at all, I find it interesting enough to make me stay here and want more." he spotted Tsurara slipping away from the group of ladies and making her way inside. "What about her? What can you tell about her?" he asked the man instead. "Other than her name since I know about it."

The guy chuckled. "She came from the line of en-sup-ok too but from what I heard, she stubbornly rejected whatever was given to her. See, she must have taken something when she was younger. And because of that, she inherited the ability to see the unseen. But I think her shamanic ability rests with how she could help in healing. She's a nice woman if ever you're interested in her."

"Not on that way, I am not. I am merely curious. I saw her the first time I came here – the other day in fact. She ah, was gasping for breath and Yura and my grandmother said Maki had visited her. Who is Maki?"

"She is a dear friend of Tori, Yura and Tsurara. She died at a young age, in the river and her body was never found. It's probably in the ocean now. It took seven months of search but nothing about her body was found. Some said they spotted it in a river, in the next province but it only showed itself once and nothing was found again. To appease her soul, they had a makeshift body buried near the river."

the two city men gulped and stared at each other before they shook their heads.

He remembered the conversation of the two females earlier. "I heard she's a disaster when it comes to water."

The guy nodded seriously this time, a worried look on his face. "She is. Setsura mentioned it to me once when we were talking about her daughter – that Tsurara had almost died many times – in the river, in the improvised pool near the river, in the pool where they went for an outing. It would seem the water spirit is interested in taking her. That happens rarely." kubanishi glanced inside when the singing suddenly stopped and a dead silence ruled inside the house. Rikuo and Kuro gave him a questioning look.

"This happens whenever someone dies – go inside and see for yourself. Who knows, your father may have a message for you."

hurriedly, Kuro and Rikuo went inside and the old women singing earlier were now giving way for both of them. Rikuo was looking around and saw his grandmother staring with mouth gaped open. She was staring at the woman who stood near Rikuo. It was none other than Tsurara.

But when Tsurara spoke, it wasn't her voice that he heard. It was a painfully familiar voice that he had missed for a while. Even her movements were familiar to him. And it seems even his grandmother noticed it as well.

"Ah, sin-maa chadlus siya," the voice said.

"I did not know Tsurara had the ability to absorb this kind of procedure," he heard a whisper nearby. Apparently, they could only hush in whisper since it will be disrespectful if they ever talk loudly in the presence of a dead spirit who came home.

"Inumchan siya." the others whispered and Rikuo had no idea what that meant. The people are starting to whisper in their dialect which he honestly could not understand. However, his eyes fixed on the woman who flicked a glance at the dead body before she smiled. The way she smiled reminded him of someone who had the same familiar voice. Who was it? He could tell his grandmother knew who he was.

"The spirits of dead ones arrived and are using Tsurara as vessel to communicate," Tori appeared between the two men. "Though I doubt Tsurara can handle this much. This is the first time it ever happened."

"It's been a while, don't you think, Youhime?" Tsurara said in that same voice, in a language which Rikuo could finally understand and he called Lady Kyo with her given name.

Lady Kyo managed to stand up with the help of Yura. She wiped her tears and spoke finally. "Nurarihyon."

That's it for now. Ah. The scene at the last end is different from 'possession' which we are more familiar with. I would like to make clear of that. Translations for the few italized sentences:

Ensakit ai semken ay han en-ilaan ta kasin mat-awan nan angsan ay tawen ya kagtuna ay umey ka et - It pains me to know that our last meeting after so many years would be when you passed away.

sin-maa chadlus siya - He is finally home.

Inumchan siya - he's arrived.