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Ukikumo Shinrei Kitan - Volume 1 - Chapter 3

Published at 17th of January 2016 05:07:53 PM


Chapter 3

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There was a painting on a scroll –

It was a somewhat strange painting.

A man stood by an old well. He wore worn hakama and his hair was not in a topknot, instead dishevelled about his head.

The man’s face was as pale as a corpse. His right hand gripped a bloody sword.

That wasn’t all that was strange about the painting.

The man was holding somebody’s hair with his left hand. Hanging from the hair was a human head.

Not just one. There were four.

Though it was certainly a gruesome and frightening painting, for some reason, it had a beauty that fascinated its viewers.

Nobody knew the goal of the painting.

However, there was a rumour. A rumour that the painting held a samurai’s curse –

And that misfortune befell any house that put the painting on display –

-

1

-

It was a sticky, humid night –

Hagiwara Shintarou was lying in his futon, but he couldn’t fall asleep.

Part of it was the sweat clinging to his body, but it might have been because he had been sleeping too much recently.

That said, he hadn’t just been lazing around. Shintarou himself couldn’t remember that well himself, but it seemed he had been asleep for seven whole days because a ghost had possessed him.

Shintarou was dwelling on that when he heard a faint noise.

At first, he thought it was the distant howl of a dog or some other animal. However, it was different. It sounded like a person’s voice.

Furthermore – it seemed to be calling him.

Shintarou slowly sat up, rubbed his eyes and looked around, but nobody was in the dark room.

Now that he thought about it, nobody would be calling him so late at night. He must have mistook a dream for reality.

If he talked to his sister Iori about it, she would definitely laugh at him for being so nervous.

After smiling self-derisively, Shintarou lay down once more, but then he heard the voice again –

He still couldn’t make out the words, but he wasn’t mistaken. He definitely heard something.

It came from the other side of the sliding door. It seemed to be from the garden.

‘Who is it?’

Shintarou got out of bed and flung the sliding door open.

Then – he saw a man standing under the pale moonlight.

He stood in the corner of the garden, by a well that nobody used.

He seemed to be wearing rags, but on closer inspection, it was a hakama. He had a sword at his waist.

– It seems he is a samurai.

Since the man was turned the other way, Shintarou could not see his face. It looked like the man was crying.

Why did he come to someone else’s estate in the middle of the night? That question would be natural, but for some reason, it did not occur to Shintarou.

'Is something the matter?’

After Shintarou called out, the man slowly turned around.

It was dim, and the man was at a distance. Shintarou could not see the man’s face clearly. He felt like he had seen it somewhere before, but he couldn’t remember.

The man said something, still looking Shintarou’s way.

At first, it just sounded like a moan, so Shintarou couldn’t make out what he was saying. However, when he strained his ears, he could tell that the man was murmuring the same words.

– It hurts… Help…

'Do you feel unwell?’ asked Shintarou.

The man leaned over the well, peering in.

The next moment, the man disappeared.

'Ah!’

– Did he fall into the well?

Shintarou rushed over, pulled off the well’s cover and peered in, but no matter how he looked, he didn’t see the man –

He couldn’t have fallen into the well in the first place, since Shintarou had been the one who pulled off the cover.

– Then where did that man go?

'Maybe that was just a trick of the eye…’

Though Shintarou muttered that to convince himself, he just couldn’t accept that.

A man had definitely been there just earlier. He had definitely spoken as well.

– Aaagh!

Shintarou had been pondering when a woman’s deathly shriek reached his years.

It sounded like it had come from the neighbouring Aoyama estate. That definitely wasn’t an illusion.

– Maybe the man from earlier…!

Shintarou started running.

-

2

-

Yasohachi visited the Hagiwara estate after noon –

A servant led him to the guestroom, which had a view of the garden.

Yasohachi sat on the tatami, placed his art tools beside him and took deep breaths. He was restless – he just couldn’t relax.

He had come to the Hagiwara estate today to paint.

– Would you allow me to paint a picture of you, Iori-san?

Yasohachi had made that request of Iori, the daughter of the Hagiwara household, five days ago.

Iori had seemed divided, but she had accepted with this reply: 'If you would be fine with me.’ That was what had brought Yasohachi here today.

Did Yasohachi want to paint Iori because he was charmed by her lovely and elegant beauty as an art subject or for another reason –

Yasohachi didn’t know if he was in love, but it was a fact that he simply wanted to meet her again.

While Yasohachi was thinking, the sliding door slid open.

Yasohachi quickly sat up straight and lifted his head, but the person who came in was not Iori.

It was Iori’s brother, Shintarou.

'Eh? Ah, er…’ Yasohachi was flustered by the appearance of somebody he had not expected.

'Please don’t freeze so.’

Shintarou gave him a friendly smile and sat in front of Yasohachi.

Though his expression was gentle, he was still a man from a samurai family – the way he sat was dignified and looked good.

'Er, but… Um…’

'It’s the first time we’ve met like this, isn’t it?’

The last time Yasohachi had come to the Hagiwara household, Shintarou had still been asleep, unable to wake up.

As a result, it was just as Shintarou said. Yasohachi had seen Shintarou asleep, but it was the first time they had met like this.

'Ah, yes.’

'I heard from my sister. I am very much in your debt.’

Shintarou bowed his head deeply.

'No, not at all… Please lift your head.’

Shintarou, the heir to a samurai family, was bowing his head to a mere townsman like Yasohachi. Yasohachi was at a loss in this unthinkable situation.

It would be a serious problem if anybody saw them like this.

'Please don't… Please, just lift your head.’

However, in contrast to Yasohachi’s anxiety, Shintarou was composed. Though he lifted his head, he was still smiling gently.

'But it is true that I am in your debt. It is only natural to express my gratitude.’

'No, I didn’t do anything…’

He wasn’t been humble.

The person who had actually solved the mystery of what was happening to Shintarou was Ukikumo, an exorcist.

Yasohachi had only realised what was happening after everything was solved.

'I heard that you also protected my sister even though it put you in danger.’

Shintarou’s eyes crinkled in a smile.

That was also incorrect. Actually, Yasohachi had been the one who had been saved. Iori had only been in danger because of Yasohachi’s carelessness.

Though Yasohachi wanted to explain, the words wouldn’t come out properly. 'No, er…’

'Because my sister is as strict as she is, she doesn’t have any friends her age. Please continue to be friendly with her.’

'What’s that supposed to mean?’

Iori came into the room suddenly and interrupted.

She was in her usual hakama attire, perhaps because she had been practising with her wooden sword again. However, her lovely beauty was the same as always.

'Exactly what I said. That you’re strait-laced.’

'Brother, I would appreciate it if you would think more like somebody from a samurai family.’

Iori replied to Shintarou’s frivolous response with exasperation.

'If you’re going to say that, why don’t you act a bit more meekly like a girl, Iori?’

'That has nothing to do with anything.’

In contrast to Iori’s displeased expression, Shintarou’s laughter was loud.

No matter what was said, the siblings were on good terms.

'Brother, have you already discussed the matter?’ asked Iori, once the conversation was over. Shintarou’s bright expression turned darker at once.

Yasohachi’s heart beat more loudly in the strained atmosphere.

'What matter do you speak of?’ he asked, leaning forward slightly.

'Actually, I saw a ghost last night.’

Shintarou’s expression as different from how it had been earlier.

'A ghost?’

'Yes. Just by that well.’

Shintarou pointed at the old well in the corner of the garden and started to talk about the ghost of a samurai he had seen last night. His words were clear and detailed, to the point that it gave Yasohachi shivers as the scene drew itself out in his head.

'How frightening,’ said Yasohachi without thinking when Shintarou mentioned the ghost’s disappearance.

'I wouldn’t have been that worried if that had been all – I could have written it off as a trick of the eye. However, there’s more – ’

Shintarou looked straight at Yasohachi.

His eyes were frightening. Yasohachi shuddered.

'There’s more?’

Yasohachi gulped and held his breath.

'Yes. A while after the man disappeared, I heard a scream.’

'A scream…’

'Yes, a woman’s scream. It sounded like she was dying. I immediately knew where the scream was coming from.’

'Was it from the well?’

'No, it was from the neighbouring Aoyama estate.’

'The one next door?’

'Yes. I ran to the Aoyama estate. There was a big commotion. When I asked one of the retainers about the situation, I was told that a female servant had been killed. And that wasn’t all – ’

Here, Shintarou paused and looked at Yasohachi. There was no shadow of his gentle smile left.

'What is it?’ asked Yasohachi, when Shintarou didn’t continue.

Shintarou smiled slightly and said, Apparently, the ghost of a samurai came out of a painted wall scroll and killed the servant.’

'That’s ridiculous!’ said Yasohachi immediately.

It was unbelievable. He thought that perhaps Shintarou was taking him in, but Shintarou’s expression was incredibly serious.

Iori was also listening silently.

'I made a request, so I was allowed into the estate and brought to see the wall scroll in question.’

'You really went?’

'Yes. It was – ’

Shintarou stopped and narrowed his eyes.

There was something unsettling about his gaze.

After a long silence, he said, 'It was a see a blood – ’

'Blood?’

'Yes. The servant was collapsed on the floor. Her neck had been cut, and blood had splattered out from there.’

'What!?’

Gooseflesh rose on Yasohachi’s skin as he imagined the gruesome scene.

'There was a wall scroll in the room, just as I was told.’

'There was?’

'Yes. There was a painting of a samurai – I don’t know how to describe it, but it was a very frightening painting.’

A samurai cutting off the head of a demon – probably a painting like that, of malevolent spirits. However, that wouldn’t make sense as a wall scroll.

'What surprised me most was – ’ here, Shintarou stopped and shut his eyes, as if trying to remember something ’ – that the samurai painted on the scroll looked just like the one I had seen by the old well.’

Though Yasohachi had somewhat expected that, hearing the words from Shintarou’s mouth made him feel dizzy.

-

3

-

'You idiot!’

That was what the man sitting against the wall – Ukikumo – yelled out the moment Yasohachi finished speaking.

Yasohachi was inside a lopsided shrine.

Ukikumo was an odd man who made a living as an exorcist and had decided to just take an abandoned shrine and make it his base.

He was an always-drinking thief and philanderer, but he did have skill as an exorcist.

He wore his white kimono sloppily. His skin was just as pale as the kimono, so his thin red lips looked especially bewitching.

His eyes, narrowed under sleepy eyelids, were dyed crimson.

His eyes weren’t just red.

According to the man himself, they could see the spirits of the dead – that is, ghosts.

'What is so idiotic about it?’ objected Yasohachi sulkily.

'It’s idiotic, so I’m saying it’s idiotic,’ retorted Ukikumo. He gulped down some sake from his cup.

'And I’m asking why you’re saying that.’

'You said a samurai came out of a painting and killed a servant.’

Ukikumo’s narrowed eyes seemed to let off a red light.

'Yes.’

'Only an idiot would believe a story like that without suspicion.’

'But Shintarou-san said it, so..’

'That’s why I’m saying you’re an idiot.’

Ukikumo waved his hand as if to chase away a fly.

Hearing idiot, idiot all the time like that really got on Yasohachi’s nerves.

'What do you mean?’

'People don’t always tell the truth.’

Yasohachi knew what Ukikumo was trying to say. Liars and boasters were abound. But –

'Shintarou-san wouldn’t lie.’

'Who can say? Not even he could.’

After saying that, Ukikumo sighed.

His eyes made it clear – he didn’t trust anybody. Yasohachi wanted to ask why Ukikumo thought that way, but the man’s dark mood made him hesitate.

'What about your painting then?’ asked Ukikumo after a pause.

'Yes?’

'What a slow guy you are. You went to paint a picture of that lass called Iori, right?’

'It is as you say.’

'Did you?’

'No. You see…’

Because of Shintarou’s ghost story, Yasohachi’s original goal of painting Iori remained undecided.

'Honestly. You came back with a ghost story without even painting a picture of her? You really are an idiot,’ grumbled Ukikumo, pouring sake from his gourd into his cup.

Though it had not been Yasohachi’s original goal, now that he had heard the story, he couldn’t leave it alone.

'Please don’t say that – won’t you lend a hand?

'Don’t want to!’

Ukikumo gulped down his sake cup and then lay down right there.

It would be very troublesome for Yasohachi if Ukikumo fell into a bad temper. He had been unable to just do nothing when he saw how anxious Iori and Shintarou had been, so he had promised to bring Ukikumo.

'Please don’t say that. There should be considerable compensation.’

'Sorry, but it’s not my job.’

'Do you doubt Shintarou’s story?’

'Yeah, I do.’

'But…’

'If that story is true, then it definitely isn’t my job.’

Ukikumo yawned, seeming incredibly bored.

'What do you mean?’

Putting aside if it was a lie, but if it was truth, then it would be Ukikumo’s job, as he was an exorcist.

'You just don’t get it. My speciality is ghosts.’

Ukikumo ran a hand through his hair in irritation and sat up.

'Yes.’

Yasohachi knew that without Ukikumo repeating it.

'Ghosts are the spirits of people after they’ve did. In short, they’re like clusters of emotion.’

'Yes, I remember.’

Yasohachi had heard Ukikumo’s thoughts on ghosts before.

'If a samurai came out of a painting and killed a servant, that wouldn’t be a ghost.’

'It wouldn’t?’

'It wouldn’t. Emotions can’t kill people.’

'Then what can?’

'If it’s true, it’d be something of the monster variety – ’

'Is a monster different from a ghost?’

'Completely different. That’s why I’m saying it’s outside my field.’

After saying that, Ukikumo lay down again and closed his eyes.

Yasohachi understood what Ukikumo was saying, though vaguely. However, he couldn’t back down now.

'Then, could you at least go to confirm whether it’s a ghost or a monster?’

'Not going.’

So this was what being curt was.

However, Yasohachi had a trump card. Though Ukikumo was troublesome, he was extraordinarily greedy.

'For this case, you will receive compensation whether you expel the spirit or not, but will you still not go?’

Yasohachi’s words made Ukikumo’s closed eyelids twitch. However, that was all.

'There’s no way it’d be that good. You’re always all talk, Hachi.’

'It hurts me to hear you say that.’

'How about your promise to let me meet Osayo?’

'Ah…’

Hitting him where it hurt.

The condition Ukikumo had set before solving the mystery of what was happening to Shintarou was that Yasohachi let Ukikumo and Yasohachi’s older sister, Osayo, meet.

However, that promise still hadn’t been fulfilled.

'It’s fine this time. Shintarou is the one making the advance payment. The Aoyama household will pay the rest once the case is solved,’ Yasohachi said to smooth things over.

'Do you think I’ll be convinced by money?’

– I do.

Yasohachi almost let that slip, but everything would come to nothing if Ukikumo’s temper turned foul now.

'You just have to go look – ’

'I don’t mind thinking about – it if you make good on that promise from before.’

Ukikumo grinned, showing his white teeth.

-

4

-

Evening approached, and the sky grew vermillion as Yasohachi walked –

Of course, Ukikumo was with him.

It had taken some time to convince Ukikumo. Though Yasohachi had used Osayo as bait, he didn’t intend on actually letting them meet.

Ukikumo had a love for women. Yasohachi had an idea about why Ukikumo wanted to meet Osayo.

'Honestly, what a pain,’ grumbled Ukikumo lazily, walking with his staff in one hand.

He had a red cloth over his two eyes and was pretending to be blind in order to hide his two red eyes.

Though Yasohachi thought them beautiful, Ukikumo said that most people in the world did not.

However, even though Ukikumo was hiding them that way, he had painted eyes in ink on the red cloth. Doing that made him stand out more and look even stranger.

'Don’t say that. Please just go take a look. They are a samurai family, so the compensation should be a considerable amount.’

'That’s the problem,’ said Ukikumo with a click of his tongue.

'What do you mean?’

A miser like Ukikumo should have been happy to receive more money.

'I hate samurai families.’

Now that Ukikumo mentioned it, he had said something similar during the incident with Shintarou. Perhaps he had a special reason.

'Why do you hate samurai families so much?’

'I hate the things I hate.’

'You sound like a child.’

'Shut up! Forget about that – somebody’s waiting.’

Ukikumo sopped and pointed his staff in front of him. Iori stood in front of the Hagiwara estate gates.

It seemed she had been waiting for them.

'I apologise for arriving late.’

Yasohachi rushed over.

Iori smiled at him. 'Not at all.’ Then, she looked at Ukikumo. 'Ukikumo-dono. Thank you very much for coming.’

'I’m getting paid, right?’

Ukikumo’s attitude was rude in contrast to Iori’s polite bow. However, Iori didn’t look annoyed. She just nodded.

'Show me to the well where the ghost was spotted first,’ said Ukikumo, putting his staff on his shoulder.

'Aren’t you going to look at the painting?’ asked Yasohachi.

Ukikumo’s displeasure was evident. 'Idiot. There’s an order to things.’

'Then please say that from the start. I was sure that I would be seeing the painting.’

'Stop whining – you’re so noisy.’

'I’m not noisy. Your explanations are always lacking, Ukikumo-san.’

As Iori watched Yasohachi and Ukikumo argue, she started to giggle.

'IS something amusing?’ asked Yasohachi.

'Your conversation was just so amusing that I – ’

'There isn’t anything amusing about it. I’m irritated.’

'It doesn’t look that way to me,’ Iori said without any delay. That made Yasohachi feel a bit awkward. He couldn’t think of a retort.

Ukikumo yawned like he didn’t care at all.

After things calmed down, Iori said, 'I apologise, but actually, my brother has left with my father because of an urgent errand…’

'I don’t care. That makes things easier,’ replied Ukikumo with a shrug.

Though Iori knew about Ukikumo’s red eyes, Shintarou did not.

Just as Ukikumo aid, having Shintarou absent might make things easier since there would be less need for explanation.

'Then please head this way – ’

Iori invited them in through the Hagiwara estate’s gates and guided them to the old well in the garden where the ghost had appeared.

The rocks surrounding the well had moss all over them, and the plank used as a cover was rotten.

Yasohachi had seen it in the day too, but it left a different impression at night.

Ukikumo took the cloth off his eyes, revealing his eyes, a crimson as vivid as the setting sun. Yasohachi was entranced by their beauty, but he didn’t dare to say it.

'So where did your brother see the ghost?’ asked Ukikumo, going around the well.

'He said that he saw the ghost around there.’

Iori pointed to the right of the well.

Ukikumo nodded and stood where she was pointing. He looked around again.

'Did the ghost say something?’

'Apparently it kept saying “It hurts” and “Help”.’

'And then it disappeared into the well.’

'Yes, that’s what my brother said he saw.’

As Ukikumo listened to Iori’s reply, he pulled off the well’s cover and leant over to peer in.

Yasohachi also peered in, taking care not to get in Ukikumo’s way.

It was complete dark. Yasohachi couldn’t see anything.

However – it was different for Ukikumo.

Ukikumo’s red eye could see the spirits of the dead – that is, ghosts.

'Did you see something?’ asked Yasohachi.

Ukikumo looked up from the well.

'Too dark to see anything.

Because Yasohachi had been expectant, Ukikumo’s curt reply made him disappointed. Ukikumo didn’t seem to care. He just threw a small rock into the well.

After a few moments, there was the sound of a splash.

Ukikumo let out a 'Hm’ and turned to look at Iori.

'How long has this well been out of use?’

'Hm… I think it’s been about a year.’

'There’s still water though – ’

'I don’t know the details either, but apparently it isn’t used any more because it smelled foul and the water was dirty.’

'I see,’ Ukikumo replied. He put a hand to his pointed chin. He appeared to be thinking.

'Does something concern you?’ asked Yasohachi.

Ukikumo smiled wryly. 'There’s no point thinking too much now. Let’s go look at that painting next – ’

– Finally, eh?

Yasohachi could feel his heart thumping loudly.

-

5

-

Iori led Yasohachi and Ukikumo through the gates of the Aoyama household –

Though Yasohachi did not know much about the ranks of samurai families, the Aoyama estate was much larger than Iori’s, so the household must have had considerable standing.

After they went in, a female servant named Okiku greeted them.

'Did you see the ghost?’ Ukikumo asked as Okiku guided them in.

Okiku’s shoulders shuddered at the sudden question and she stopped in her tracks. Then, she slowly turned around.

Okiku had a round and cute face, but she was so pale she looked sickly.

'I saw it…’ she replied in a hoarse voice.

'Oh? Where?’

'The room with the wall scroll. I heard a noise that night so I went to the room, and then…’

Okiku covered her mouth. She was shaking terribly – she seemed afraid.

'Are you sure it came out of the painting?’ asked Yasohachi. Okiku’s gaze was unfocussed, like she was thinking about something, and then she replied, 'That was how it looked to me…’

A ghost came out of a painting – Ukikumo had said it was a tall tale, but if somebody had actually seen it, it was undoubtedly fact.

Okiku led them to the inner guestroom.

'It is quite a large estate,’ said Yasohachi, looking around the room after Okiku had left.

'Aoyama is a noted family that has served the Tokugawa shogunate for a long time. They should hold an important office in the shogunate even now. Well, this does appear to be a branch family…’

The one who replied was not Iori but Ukikumo.

He had his staff on his lap, looking incredibly displeased as he sat there.

He knew a lot about samurai families for somebody who said he didn’t like them. Yasohachi told Ukikumo that, but Ukikumo immediately retorted, 'Hating something and knowing something are completely different matters.’

Then, the sliding door opened and a man came in.

He was probably about the same age as Shintarou. He had dark, tanned skin with a manly face.

'Iori-san, I’m sorry for the long wait.’

The man had a friendly smile on his face.

'No, not at all. This is the eldest son of the Aoyama household, Aoyama Sousuke-sama.’

Iori’s words seemed lively as she introduced Sousuke.

Her words, different from those she used towards townsmen like Yasohachi and Ukikumo, made Iori feel distant.

'This is Ukikumo-dono and Yasohachi-dono.’

Then, Iori introduced Yasohachi and Ukikumo.

'I hear you are a skilful exorcist that can exorcise any spirit – I am in your care,’ Sousuke said politely.

Though the man gave a good impression, something smouldered within Yasohachi’s heart. He himself didn’t know hat emotion it was.

'Let me say this first – I haven’t agreed to take the case,’ Ukikumo said firmly.

'What do you mean?’

Sousuke looked doubtful.

'I specialise in ghosts. I’ll step out if a monster’s involved or if it’s the work of a person.’

'You’re quite frank, aren’t you? I’ve taken a liking to you.’

Sousuke laughed aloud, but Ukikumo’s expression was impregnable.

'I hate samurai families. All of you just look down on people.’

'I like you even more. I don’t like the current samurai family system either. It has to be more equal.’

'I don’t plan on having a boring debate.’

'Ah, that is right. Then, let us go take a look immediately – ’

Sousuke was their guide to the room with the wall scroll in question.

'About somebody coming out of this wall scroll – when did that start?’ asked Ukikumo as they walked down the corridor.

'I don’t know the details myself either,’ replied Sousuke with a wry smile.

'I’m not asking the exact date. A general guess will be fine.’

'Hm… I think it was recent, but I also feel like there was a rumour of that kind since a while back.’

Sousuke’s words were unclear, having lost their cheer from earlier.

'Then let me change the question. How long’s that scroll been in this family?’

'I sincerely apologise, but I don’t know for certain either. I feel like it’s always been here…’

As they continued this vague exchange, the reached the room in question. Sousuke stopped. 'This is the room.’

Yasohachi’s hands started to sweat when he thought that a cursed painting was just on the other side of the door.

Iori and Sousuke seemed nervous as well. Their lips were thin.

Ukikumo, alone, had the same blank expression as always.

'Then – ’

Sousuke opened the sliding door.

The room was six tatami in size. Yasohachi scrunched up his face at the stench.

Dark red bloodstains were on the tatami, telling a gruesome tale.

Yasohachi just managed to fight the urge to vomit. Iori also seemed unwell, looking away from the sight.

Ukikumo silently looked about the room.

'How is it?’ asked Sousuke, peering at Ukikumo’s face.

'Step back a bit,’ Ukikumo replied brusquely.

'He needs to concentrate to see ghosts,’ said Yasohachi to Sousuke, who seemed confused.

Ukikumo probably wanted to take the red cloth off his eyes to look at the scene, but he couldn’t do that with Sousuke here.

'Let us leave the situation to these two,’ Iori urged Sousuke. Iori also knew about Ukikumo’s red eye.

Sousuke looked like he didn’t want to accept, but he left with Iori.

'How is it?’ asked Yasohachi now that he and Ukikumo were alone.

'I can’t see anything from here.’

It had started to grow dark, so they couldn’t see the wall scroll in the back of the room.

Ukikumo stepped further in.

Yasohachi, though hesitant, followed him.

Ukikumo walked right up to the wall scroll and pulled the red cloth off his eyes.

His crimson eyes looked at the painting on the wall scroll.

Yasohachi stood next to Ukikumo and looked at the painting as well.

'Wha!?’ Yasohachi yelped without thinking when faced with the indescribable strangeness of the painting.

A samurai stood in the centre of the wall scroll. His hakama was worn out – Yasohachi could almost smell its stench.

However, that wasn’t why the painting was strange.

The man in the painting held a sword in his right hand. Four heads hung from his left.

The blood dripping from his sword looked incredibly real.

It was so ominous that Yasohachi felt that the samurai could really have come out of the painting.

The painting, filled with a frightening force, must have been painted by somebody with considerable talent.

– I wonder whose work this is.

There was a seal in the left corner of the painting.

'What a frightening painting,’ said Yasohachi.

Ukikumo made a click with his tongue and murmured, 'So it really was Yuuzan…’

'What did you say?’

'The painting isn’t what’s frightening,’ said Ukikumo. He looked away from the painting. Rather than fright, his words seemed filled with abhorrence.

'What do you mean?’

'You don’t need to know.’

'But..’

The sound of footsteps rushing towards them interrupted Yasohachi.

An old samurai showed up.

He had a square face and just looked to be hard to please.

'You are the exorcists, aren’t you?’ the man accused.

'Yes,’ replied Yasohachi.

The samurai sighed. 'Please leave. This is not a place for you.’

'But Sousuke-sama…’

'It has nothing to do with Sousuke-sama. As the Aoyama household steward, I cannot allow people like you from who knows where to come in and out. Especially after an incident like that. I don’t even want to think about what sort of rumours might spring up.’

The old samurai said all that at once.

'You make it sound like we’re criminals,’ replied Ukikumo, since Yasohachi had been stunned into silence.

He had put the red cloth back on at some point.

For just a moment, the old samurai seemed to falter under the glare of the inked eyes, but he immediately continued, 'Perhaps you are.’ He looked at them scornfully.

That was an extreme false accusation.

'This is why I hate samurai families – we’re going, Hachi.’

Ukikumo was ready to leave, but Yasohachi called out to him.

'We don’t know anything yet. At this rate…’

'Leave it. They don’t want my help. Right?’

Ukikumo looked towards the old samurai, who nodded, looking satisfied.

'Seems you’re quick on the uptake.’

'So he says.’

Ukikumo walked away briskly.

Yasohachi couldn’t do anything even if he stayed here alone, so he ran after Ukikumo.

'Please wait, Ukikumo-san!’

Yasohachi kept calling out, but Ukikumo kept walking away.

'Please wait!’

Ukikumo finally stopped after going through the Aoyama estate’s gates.

'You’re so noisy.’

Ukikumo ran a hand through his hair in irritation.

'Let’s go back.’

'Don’t want to.’

'But nothing has been solved yet.’

'Like I care. It’s not like I just left – I was chased out.’

Ukikumo snorted.

It was just as he said. It made sense for Ukikumo to be refused like that.

'But if this continues, there may be another victim.’

'Not maybe,’ Ukikumo murmured.

'Eh?’

'I’m saying more people will die.’

Ukikumo put his staff on his shoulder and turned to look at the Aoyama estate’s gates.

The way he spoke – perhaps Ukikumo knew something about this case.

'Then it is even more important that we do something.’

'Give it up.’

'Why? Because we were treated as criminals earlier?’

It was true that the old samurai’s words had been irritating, but that was a different problem.

'They don’t want my help. I don’t care if they get cursed or die,’ Ukikumo spat out.

'I’ve misjudged you.’

No matter what Ukikumo said, Yasohachi had believed him to be a man who wouldn’t leave somebody in trouble alone –

'Did you trust me enough to misjudge me?’

'I…’

Yasohachi couldn’t speak.

It wasn’t because he couldn’t find the words. It was because Ukikumo had covered Yasohachi’s mouth with his hand.

Yasohachi tried to escape Ukikumo’s hand, but he couldn’t. Ukikumo was too strong.

'You’re so annoying with all your whining.’

Ukikumo pulled the red cloth down and looked at Yasohachi with his crimson eyes.

His eyes were cold enough to freeze.

’…’

'Listen up. If you don’t want to die as well, don’t get involved with this case – got it?’

Ukikumo put his face close to Yasohachi’s and whispered in his ear.

Yasohachi didn’t respond. He just glared at Ukikumo.

For a while, they stared at each other silently, but finally, Ukikumo pushed Yasohachi away.

Yasohachi staggered backwards and fell onto his behind.

'Don’t approach that painting on any account. Got it?’ repeated Ukikumo. Then, he walked away. It was as if he had melted into the darkness.

Yasohachi watched him go, half in shock.

Earlier, Ukikumo had seemed to be afraid, rather than angry. What on earth was Ukikumo thinking –

'Yasohachi-san.’

Yasohachi came back to his senses when somebody called out to him.

When he turned around, he saw Iori looking at him, seeming concerned

-

6

-

'That is quite a problem,’ said Iori with a shake of her head once Yasohachi finished explaining the situation.

They were in the guestroom of the Hagiwara estate.

It was dark, and the moon was out.

'It really is,’ replied Yasohachi with a sigh.

Even though Ukikumo made a living as an exorcist, he was slow to start work. However, that was only until he stuck his neck in, upon which things changed entirely. He wasn’t the sort of man to abandon something midway. That was what Yasohachi had thought.

And yet –

'The person who chased you out was probably Matsuoka-dono, the steward.’

'He did mention that he was the steward.’

'Matsuoka-dono has never been on good terms with Sousuke-sama. It isn’t just that he dislikes exorcists – so I think, anyway.’

Iori spoke in a clear voice with her bake perfectly straight.

'Why are they on such bad terms?’

'Sousuke-sama is cheerful, just as he looks, and he has soft thoughts. It seems he attends a variety of assemblies.’

'I see.’

Yasohachi understood Iori’s explanation.

However, for some reason, Yasohachi’s heart sank the more Iori praised Sousuke.

'Meanwhile, Matsuoka-dono is serious and strict with rules. It is only natural that they do not get along.’

'He’s a stalwart then.’

'Yes. He chased a retainer out of the household before when one of the family’s vases was broken.’

Though Yasohachi did not know how precious that vase had been, he felt like that was doing a bit too much.

After Yasohachi said that, Iori nodded in agreement.

'However, with that situation, it makes it even harder to go into the Aoyama estate.’

If they couldn’t go in, they couldn’t solve the mystery.

'I will make efforts on my part. I think Sousuke-sama will do something.’

'Sousuke-sama…’ replied Yasohachi flatly.

He felt like Iori was relying on Sousuke too much.

'More importantly, I am concerned about Ukikumo-dono. I don’t think he is the sort of person to run away just because Matsuoka-dono said something…’

Iori looked up at Yasohachi.

The stiff expression naturally left Yasohachi’s cheeks when faced with such a lovely expression, but he immediately noticed and hardened his expression.

'I was bothered by that too. And…’

'What is it?’

'Ukikumo-san said something odd.’

'Something odd?’

'Yes. “Don’t approach that painting on any account.” He told me that.’

If he had been angry with Matsuoka, he would have said not to approach the Aoyama household.

Now that Yasohachi thought about it, Ukikumo had decided to step out before Matsuoka had chased them out.

'That is strange.’

Iori looked suspicious.

'As well, he said one more thing – ’

'What is it?’

’“More people will die.”’

Even as Yasohachi said it himself, a chill ran down his spine. Iori’s expression hardened too.

That was how heavy the meaning of those words were.

'Then we really cannot leave the situation as it is…’

Yasohachi agreed with Iori’s opinion. He wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if he backed out now. However, even if he wanted to do something, there was a problem.

'However, even if I try to do anything, I cannot exorcise spirits – there is nothing I can do…’

Yasohachi, unlike Ukikumo, could not see the spirits of the dead. He was not a monk who could work miracles. In short, he could do nothing.

'It isn’t as if you need to exorcise any spirits, Yasohachi-san,’ Iori said firmly with a smile.

'Eh?’

'You just have to find out why Ukikumo-dono stepped out, don’t you?’

'I see.’

Yasohachi clapped his hands together.

If he understood why Ukikumo had stepped away from the case, he could pull him in again.

Iori wasn’t only beautiful – she was also intelligent, with a strong heart that was not easily shaken.

It was probably natural for somebody like Iori to become the wife of somebody from a high-ranking samurai family like Sousuke.

'Then where should we start?’ asked Iori.

'That’s right – I think Ukikumo-san noticed something about the painting, so I’d like to find out where the painting came from.’

'Do yo uahve any ideas?’

'The name of the painter was on it.’

'Who is the painter?’

'Kanou Yuuzan – ’

'Kanou Yuuzan – do you know him, Yasohachi-san?’

'I don’t recognise the name Yuuzan, but a painter named Kanou – I have a guess.’

'It would be somebody related to the Kanou school, the largest of the painter school serving the shogunate.’

'Yes. Just as I expected, you already know,’ said Yasohachi in admiration.

She was the daughter of a samurai family, so she was naturally well educated. He wouldn’t have to explain further.

'No, not at all. More importantly, I just remembered when you mentioned the painting… I apologise.’

Iori bowed her head.

'What is it?’

'Even though you had said that you would paint a picture of me…’

Now wasn’t the time to lightheartedly paint pictures. Yasohachi was just happy that she had remembered.

'No, please don’t be concerned about that. Anyway, let us search for where that painting came from today.’

'Yes. Then I will visit your residence tomorrow morning, Yasohachi-san.’

Yasohachi wasn’t sure he had heard Iori’s casual words correctly. 'What did you just say?’

'That I would visit tomorrow morning,’ Iori replied calmly.

'You plan on searching with me?’

'Yes. Is there a problem with that?’ Iori cocked her head like she was confused.

'Iori-san, you don’t have to search as well,’ Yasohachi said fervently, half getting up.

However, Iori didn’t budge. 'Why not?’

– I’m at a loss.

Yasohachi scratched his head. Then, he felt something strange. He couldn’t describe it.

Iori and he exchanged glances and looked towards the well.

There was a man standing there.

It was a samurai, just as Shintarou had discussed in his story.

He was looking down and muttering something, but Yasohachi couldn’t hear him clearly.

'Excuse me…’ said Iori, going to approach the samurai, but Yasohachi held her back.

It would be a problem if she carelessly approached and was possessed. Iori seemed to sense Yasohachi’s worries, as she did not go any closer.

Soon, the samurai’s ghost disappeared silently.

'I wonder what he is trying to say?’ said Yasohachi to himself.

'I don’t know,’ said Iori with a shake of her head.

Then, there was a clamour from the neighbouring Aoyama household. Ukikumo’s words flashed through Yasohachi’s head.

– More people will die.

Yasohachi had already started running. Iori was right behind him.

When they reached the Aoyama gates, Yasohachi stopped.

Though he had run all the way here, he couldn’t just go in without permission. He was deciding what to do when the gate opened and a retainer rushed out.

'What happened?’ asked Iori, grabbing the man’s arm to sotp him from running.

'My comrade Sadayuki collapsed, coughing out blood. I am going ot call a doctor so – ’

The man shook Iori’s hand away and ran off.

Though Yasohachi did not understand the situation clearly, it appeared another person had fallen victim.

'I will ask for the details. Yasohachi-san, please leave for today.’

Iori said just that and quickly went through the gate.

For a while, Yasohachi was stunned, but just standing here was useless. He walked away with trudging steps.

– What on earth is happening?

Was that creepy painting bringing misfortune to the Aoyama household? Or – Yasohachi was thinking about various things when he suddenly stopped.

He had heard the chime of a bell.

He looked around. He saw a dark figure at a distance.

He wore a straw hat that covered his face[1] with a pale mouse-coloured kimono that had a yellow sash over it.

It seemed he was a begging Komuso monk.

Probably nobody would pass by if he begged on a night like this. Since Yasohachi thought him pitiful, he put the change he had in the pot at the monk’s feet.

Yasohachi was about to leave, but the monk suddenly called out to him.

'You have the shadow of death upon you – take care,’ the monk said in a horase voice.

'What do you mean?’ asked Yasohachi, but the monk silently turned around and left.

He left the pot of change behind in the dark –

-

7

-

'Come on, Hachi! Wake up!’

Yasohachi woke up to a loud voice.

He rubbed his eyes sleepily and looked up to see Osayo with her hands at her hips, seeming angry.

'Sis, morning…’

'This isn’t the time for that. A girl named Iori-san is here.’

Osayo’s words woke Yasohachi right up.

He hurriedly jumped up and started to change.

'She’s from a samurai family – is this OK?’

Osayo looked concerned.

'I know. IT’s not like that. She’s just helping Ukikumo-san out with something supernatural.’

'I see. That’s good then.’

Osayo’s expression softened.

Though Ukikumo said that rank didn’t matter, that wasn’t how things were in reality. It would be impossible for somebody from a lowly textile shop to marry the daughter of a samurai family.

'By the way, is he doing well?’ asked Osayo.

'Er, yeah.’

He didn’t dare to mention the quarrel they had had last night. Of course he didn’t mention his promise to introduce Osayo either.

'I see… Why not bring him over next time? I want to thank him…’ Osayo said a bit shyly.

Yasohachi was startled. Though it was faint, Osayo’s cheeks looked a bit red.

– You’re kidding me!

He wouldn’t be able to stand it if Osayo ended up married to somebody like Ukikumo.

'Ukikumo-san is busy with things.’

Yasohachi finished dressing and ran out of the room.

After leaving the house, he found Iori waiting under the roof’s eaves. Rather than her usual hakama, she was in a light pink kimono.

Yasohachi held his breath without thinking, stunned by her appearance.

'Yasohachi-san.’

Iori looked at him with a slight smile.

Yasohachi looked down when he realised in embarrassment that he had been staring. 'I apologise for the wait…’

'No, please don’t worry about that. Is something the matter?’ asked Iori, perhaps feeling that Yasohachi’s behaviour was suspicious.

'No, er… I just thought it unusual that you weren’t in hakama.’

'Since I did not know where we were going, I thought that being in hakama might be inappropriate…’

'I see.’

'It’s a bit difficult to move about in this since I’m not used to wearing this sort of clothing.’ Iori smiled bashfully.

Perhaps it would be appropriate for Yasohachi to say something like 'It looks good on you’ or 'You look beautiful’, but he couldn’t say anything but 'Is that so?’.

'More importantly, about what happened yesterday…’ said Iori, her expression hardening.

Yasohachi was brought back to reality.

'How was it?’

'Unfortunately, somebody named Sadayuki has passed away.’

Iori bit her lip, looking pained.

Yasohachi felt the same way. If this had been solved earlier, the person named Sadayuki might not have died.

When Yasohachi thought about that, he felt angry at Ukikumo, who had pulled out without explaining his reason.

'Let us work our hardest so that there are no more victims.’

Yasohachi stiffened as well at Iori’s forceful words.

'Yes. Let’s do whatever we can to avoid any more victims.’

'Then, where shall we go?’

As Iori said that, she seemed a bit happy.

'There is a town painter named Machida Tenmei in Naito-Shinjuku. I was thinking we could go there first.’

Yasohachi hadn’t looked this person up just for this case.

Yasohachi was looking for somebody to take him as an apprentice so that he could become a painter. One of the people he had found was Machida Tenmei.

The name Machida Tenmei was not very well known, but he mostly painted Buddhist pictures. His brush was rough but also delicate – his painting was unique.

When Yasohachi last went, he’d heard that the painter used to be in the Kanou school.

Though he was a bit of a difficult character, he would be the most suitable person to talk to about this case.

'Let’s go then.’

'Yes, let’s.’

Yasohachi and Iori started to walk.

As they walked, Iori suddenly said, 'She’s very beautiful.’

'Yes. She’s my older sister, Osayo.’

'Your older sister – ’

'Yes. That said, we’re not related by blood…’

In contrast to Yasohachi’s self-deprecating smile, Iori appeared surprised.

Yasohachi couldn’t hold information back now that he’d said this much. Yasohachi explained the strange circumstances of his birth to Iori as they walked along.

It was the incident that had caused him to meet Ukikumo –

Yasohachi had never been good at explaining, so the story took longer than it needed to. When he finished, they had already reached the long house where Machida Tenmei lived.

'Please excuse the intrusion – ’ called out Yasohachi as he opened the sliding door.

'Oh, the boy from last time?’

A man looked up from his desk in the dark room.

It was Machida Tenmei. He was very slender and his eyes sunken in. It was as if he was a skeleton.

'Thank you for the other day… Er, this is the daughter of the Hagiwara household…’

'I don’t care who she is. Well, there’s not much room, but sit.’

Yasohachi and Iori went into the room at Tenmei’s urging.

'This is wonderful,’ said Iori in admiration, picking up one of the paintings strewn all over the floor.

It was a picture of the Buddha. He looked strong and awe-inspiring, but at the same time, there was a warm kindness to it.

'That work’s rubbish. I don’t need platitudes.’

'No, it really is…’

'Just stop,’ interrupted Tenmei. Then, he said curtly, 'Are you going to keep stupidly saying that you want to be a painter?’

'Well, yes,’ replied Yasohachi.

Tenmei snorted. 'I said this before, but give it up. The world of painting with its schools and whatnot is completely rotten. There’s nothing good about it. If you’re going to do it at all, Dutch-style painting is the way to go.’

Yasohachi had heard that before.

It seemed that Tenmei hated the different schools of the art world. He had probably felt that way from being in the Kanou school, which was the largest of them all.

'Er… I actually came for a different reason today,’ Yasohachi said stiffly.

If this continued, they would be forced to listen at length to Tenmei’s criticism of the different schools.

'A different reason?’

Tenmei’s sunken eyes narrowed.

'Yes. We are searching for a certain painter.’

'Want to become some painter’s apprentice?’

'No, there’s another reason…’

Yasohachi didn’t mind explaining, but to be honest, he felt it would be rather difficult.

'So who are you searching for?’

Fortunately, Tenmei didn’t ask for details.

'Kanou Yuuzan – ’

The moment Yasohachi said that name, Tenmei’s eyes went wide and he grew pale.

From that reaction, it seemed that he knew him.

Iori seemed to think the same way. She leant forward slightly.

'Where’d you hear that name?’ said Tenmei, with a frightening expression on his face that Yasohachi had never seen before.

'I saw a painting by him – ’

'What will you do if you find him?’

'Actually, I heard that a ghost of a samurai came out of the painting and killed a servant.’

When Yasohachi said that, Tenmei let out a long sigh.

The room was filled with an unpleasant atmosphere.

'If that was really Kanou Yuuzan’s painting, it’s probably true – ’ said Tenmei in a hoarse voice.

'What do you mean?’

'Exactly what I said. That’s the sort of painter Kanou Yuuzan is. I won’t say anything else, but don’t be so stupid as to go looking for him.’

Tenmei’s tone brooked no argument.

However, Yasohachi had found a clue. He couldn’t back down.

'Why not? What sort of person is Kanou Yuuzan?’ asked Yasohachi, leaning forward.

Tenmei pushed him back. 'You don’t have to know. You don’t need to know. Sorry, but could you leave?’

Tenmei turned away from Yasohachi. It was a complete refusal.

Nothing Yasohachi said would be of any use now. Yasohachi reluctantly left Tenmei’s home.

'I wonder what sort of person Kanou Yuuzan is,’ murmured Iori after stepping outside.

'I don’t know.’

All Yasohachi could do was cock his head.

Ukikumo and Tenmei had both completely changed their attitudes upon hearing the name. It was as if they were afraid.

– What sort of painter is Kanou Yuuzan?

As Yasohachi walked and thought, somebody called out from his side. 'Hello – ’

HE turned around to see a man standing there. Though he had a sword at his waist, his kimono was old and his topknot was a mess. He did not seem dignified.

He appeared to be a ronin from somewhere.

'What is it?’ asked Yasohachi.

The man smiled, showing his yellowed teeth.

Yasohachi had a bad feeling.

'I hear you’re looking for Kanou Yuuzan-sensei.’

'How do you know that?’

'I was eavesdropping earlier. I don’t mind telling you where he is.’

Iori grabbed Yasohachi’s sleeve.

She probably wanted to tell him that this man was suspicious. Yasohachi agreed. Though it was not good to judge people based on their appearances, he just couldn’t trust the man in front of him.

'I appreciate the offer, but no thank you.’

Yasohachi made a move to leave, but the man grabbed his arm.

'I said I don’t mind telling you, so shut up and follow me,’ the man said. His breath smelled rotten.

Yasohachi did not know the man’s goal, but there was definitely evil intent in his eyes.

'Please let go of that hand!’

Iori picked up a stick that had been nearby and held it up as a wooden sword.

'Do you think you can beat me in that clothing?’

The man looked at Iori scornfully.

Iori frowned slightly. Iori was currently wearing a kimono instead of her usual hakama. It would be hard for her to move freely. Her stance was narrow as a result.

'Yah!’

However, Iori still slashed forward, fluid like water as she hit the man’s wrist.

The man curled up in pain, but the stick Iori had been holding split in two. Iori was looking for a replacement when the man stood up first.

'You bitch… You’ll pay for that!’

The man’s eyes were red with anger as he hit Iori.

Though Iori probably could have evaded the hit in a hakama, her kimono made her movements slower.

The man’s fist hit Iori straight on and she fell to the floor, face-down. She wasn’t moving –

'Iori-san!’

Yasohachi ran up to Iori and shook her.

It looked like she had just fainted. She was still breathing.

He was only allowed a moment of relief though. Yaoshachi felt killing intent behind him.

Yasohachi had been distressed, but to have left his back so unguarded –

Regret only came when it was too late. Yasohachi felt a shock of pain in the back of his head, and then his consciousness slipped into a deep darkness –

-

8

-

There was the chime of a bell.

Yasohachi slowly opened his eyes, as if the gentle tinkling had invited him to.

He was in a dim and damp place with a slight stench. It seemed Yasohachi was lying on a dirt floor.

The back of his head felt heavy.

He tried to touch his head, but he couldn’t. His wrists were bound tightly together with rope.

He slowly sat up. It looked like he was in an old farmer’s house. A man was sitting in front of the hearth. The man wore slightly dirty hakama.

The moment he saw the man’s bearded face, his blurry memories came back to him at once.

The man in front of Yasohachi had called out to him and then attacked him.

– I need to escape!

Though Yasohachi tried to run, his hands were bound so he couldn’t move as he wanted to. He fell to the ground.

'Don’t move,’ the man muttered. He picked up the sword at his side and slowly stood up.

The man let out a strange air.

Yasohachi had thought he was a ronin, but perhaps this man was Kanou Yuuzan.

'You…’

'I said not to move. I’ll kill you if you move – ’

The man took the sword out of its sheath and put its tip at Yasohachi’s chin.

The cold sword made a tremor of terror run through Yasohachi.

However, he couldn’t falter here. Yasohachi had to confirm something.

'What happened to Iori-san?’ he said, glaring at the man.

'Iori?’

'Yes. The girl who was with me.’

'Ah, that girl – ’

The man stopped there. His lips twisted into a dark smile.

Yasohachi’s heart beat loudly.

'Hm, I wonder – want me to tell you?’

The man licked his lips. His shoulders shook as he laughed.

When Yasohachi saw that, the hair stood up on his skin. Even without the man saying anything, Yasohachi could guess what he had down to Iori.

Yasohachi lost himself to the anger welling up within him and charged at the main – but then something lit up the dark room.

Somebody was standing in the doorway. Because of the light behind the person, Yasohachi couldn’t make up their face.

'Who are you!?’

The man readied his sword. It seemed he hadn’t expected a guest either.

'My name isn’t important. I am only a lowly medicine seller,’ said the figure in the doorway.

Yasohachi recognised that voice.

'Medicine seller?’

'Yes. I am from Ishida Sanyaku. Would you like a salve?’

As the figure said that, they stepped into the room. Now, Yasohachi could see the person’s face clearly.

'Hijikata-san!’

The person who had come in was Hijikata, a merchant of medicine.

He often came to Yasohachi’s shop and had introduced him to Ukikumo.

He had his medicine box on his back as usual. For some reason, he also had a wooden sword.

'Yasohachi-san, you appear to be fine,’ said Hijikata, his narrow eyes growing narrower.

'I don’t need medicine! Get out of here already!’ yelled the man angrily.

However, Hijikata did not flinch. He just smiled faintly.

'Yes, of course I will. Yasohachi-san, let us leave.’

Hijikata approached Yasohachi, but the man stood between them to stop him.

'Didn’t you hear me? Get out of here! I’ll cut you with my sword otherwise!’

The man pointed the tip of his sword at Hijikata.

– Please run away!

Yasohachi wanted to say that, but his voice wouldn’t come out in his fear. It wasn’t because he was afraid of the man with the sword.

It was because Hijikata’s face had – changed.

The smile from earlier had disappeared. He was as expressionless as a Noh mask. His eyes were sharp, piercing.

'A lowly ronin is going to cut me?’

Hijikata had stopped using polite language[2]. It was as if he was a completely different person.

'You’re just a medicine seller! Don’t look down on me! What can you do with a wooden sword?’

'You’re a dog that just keeps barking,’ Hijikata said with contempt. He put down his medicine box and held up his wooden sword.

'Do you know who I am!?’

'I don’t. I don’t care.’

'Then I’ll teach your body.’

The man held up his sword and put his left foot forward.

Though Yasohachi was a novice regarding swordsmanship, he could tell that the man had to have considerable skill from his expert stance.

'Looks like you’re not completely awful, even though you’re a ronin,’ Hijikata said quietly. He held his sword up in front of him, the tip pointed at the man’s eyes. Then, he lowered the tip of the sword to his thigh.

Though at first glance he seemed defenceless, there were no gaps there.

'Ei!’

The man rushed forward.

Hijikata swiftly avoided the strike. However, the man’s attack continued.

– Watch out!

The man went for Hijikata’s throat before Yasohachi could even scream.

Hijikata turned his body and evaded the man’s strike. He hit the man’s arm with his wooden sword and continued, his sword going for the man’s throat.

Though the strikes had been the same, even a novice like Yasohachi could tell that their skill level was completely different.

The man didn’t even has time to let out a groan. He dropped the sword and fell forward. He stopped moving.

'It’s a good thing I brought a wooden sword,’ murmured Hijikata.

Yasohachi was about to walk up to Hijikata, but Hijikata stopped him. Even though the man was on the floor, the air about Hijikata had not relaxed.

'Why not come out from there instead of just watching?’ said Hijikata, sending a sharp glance towards the back fo the room.

– Is somebody behind that sliding door?

Yasohachi held his breath as he watched.

After a long silence, there was the chime of a bell.

'Gone then – ’

As if that chime had been a sign, Hijikata breathed out and then walked up to Yasohachi.

He was smiling gently, completely different from his expression before.

'Everything is fine now,’ Hijikata said as he started to untie the ropes binding Yasohachi’s body. Even his way of speaking had changed.

'Hijikata-san – who on earth are you?’

'I am just a medicine seller.’

'Just a medicine seller wouldn’t be able to do something like that to a ronin.’

Yasohachi looked at the man lying face down on the floor.

'He was just too weak,’ Hijikata said nonchalantly, but Yasohachi couldn’t accept that.

'And why are you here?’

'I was asked see.’

'What were you asked?’

'To watch over you.’

'Who on earth asked you to do that?’

'You’ll understand if you come with me,’ replied Hijikata with a smile.

-

9

-

Hijikata brought Yasohachi to Marukuma, a bar that he knew well.

Though he had asked Hijikata many questions before reaching here, Hijikata had not given him any proper answers.

'This is where I take my leave. That man awaits you on the second floor,’ said Hijikata in front of the entrance. Then, he walked away briskly.

Yasohachi realised that he hadn’t thanked Hijikata yet, but Hijikata had already disappeared.

With a sigh, Yasohachi went under the curtain at the entrance to Marukuma.

'Hachi! It’s been a while.’

The owner, Kumakichi, called out to him with a wave.

Yasohachi had known Kumakichi for a long time. The man was as large and hairy as his name suggested, but he was kind and considerate despite his appearance.

'Hello, Kuma-san.’

'Seems like you were in some trouble.’

Kumakichi patted him on the shoulder.

'Er…’

'Guy’s waiting on the second floor,’ Kumakichi said, using his chin to point.

Though there were a number of things Yasohachi wanted to ask, Kumakichi left to attend to another customer.

Yasohachi was still confused as he went up the stairs and opened the sliding door.

'Yasohachi-san!’

Somebody leapt up and called out to him. It was Iori.

Though her kimono was slightly sullied, it seemed she had no heavy injuries.

'Iori-san, you look well.’

'Yes. I fainted, and when I woke up, you were gone… I am very glad that you are safe.’

It seemed she had truly been worried. Iori gripped Yasohachi’s hand tightly.

Yasohachi had thought that the man had done something to her, but it seemed that was not the case.

'Are you done with the touching reunion?’

Somebody spoke in a drawl from the back of the room.

When Yasohachi stepped in, he saw Ukikumo drinking from a sake cup as he sat with his back against the wall.

'Ukikumo-san – what on earth is this?’

'I’ll explain, so sit down.’

Yasohachi sat in front of Ukikumo as instructed. Iori sat in the same manner.

'Honestly. I told you not to get involved and you made some pointless plan anyway – this is why you get into situations like that,’ grumbled Ukikumo, downing his cup of sake.

'But… I couldn’t just leave things like that.’

'If you lose your life, there’s no point, is there?’

'I’m alive right now.’

'Idiot! If I hadn’t told that Hijikata to keep watch over you, you might have died!’

Ukikumo slammed the tatami with his fist.

It was the first time Yasohachi had seen Ukikumo so angry. Perhaps it was strange, but Yasohachi was happy.

That anger meant that Ukikumo had been worried about Yasohachi.

'I apologise – but I couldn’t just accept things without an explanation,’ said Yasohachi, leaning forward ash e did so.

Ukikumo crossed his arms and looked up at the ceiling. It seemed he wasn’t sure whether to talk.

'I feel the same way as Yasohachi-san.’

Iori also looked at Ukikumo with resolve in her eyes.

Ukikumo looked at Yasohachi and then Iori. Then, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

'Honestly, you are such troublesome brats. No helping it – I’ll talk. Do what I say afterwards. Can you promise me that?’

Yasohachi and Iori nodded. Ukikumo downed another cup of sake before speaking.

'First, the ronin that kidnapped Hachi… I don’t know anything about him. Just some underling that got hired.’

'Who hired him?’

'Kanou Yuuzan,’ said Ukikumo, his voice cold.

'Why?’

'Kanou Yuuzan has something to do with this incident. He thought that you’d get in the way of his work if you kept snooping about.’

'So is Kanou Yuuzan the person behind this chain of incidents?’

'That’s half right, but it’s half wrong.’

'Eh?’

'What incident are you talking about anyway?’

It was a strange question for Ukikumo to ask after all that had happened.

'A ghost came out of a painting and killed a servant.’

'The host that my brother saw at the well,’ supplemented Iori.

Ukikumo snorted.

'What is so funny?’ asked Yasohachi.

Ukikumo looked bitter.

'If only your brother hadn’t seen a ghost, I wouldn’t have had to be involved in this incident with Kanou Yuuzan.’

Ukikumo’s gaze made Iori look troubled.

'It isn’t Iori-san’s fault,’ objected Yasohachi, but Ukikumo just responded with a click of his tongue.

'I know that. It’s just that I’d planned on throwing away my past, but I couldn’t escape from it.’

'Your past?’

'Yeah. I don’t want to remember it…’

Ukikumo had a complex expression on his face, a mixture of anger, hatred and sadness.

What kind of past did Ukikumo have – and how aws it related to Kanou Yuuzan –

'What on earth happened?’ asked Yasohachi.

Ukikumo slowly stood up.

'That’s enough with the boring talk. I’m going to exorcise that spirit – ’

As he stood there, he looked splendid, as if something had come unbound.

-

10

-

In the Aoyama household guestroom, Yasohachi knelt with his back completely straight –

Sousuke sat opposite him. Iori was also there.

Ukikumo had his staff under his left arm and was drinking from the sake cup in his right hand.

'Can you really exorcise the spirit?’ Sousuke asked Ukikumo.

There was a hint of doubt in that voice. No matter the reason, Ukikumo had left last time, so it made sense for Sousuke to feel that way.

Yasohachi himself was a bit doubtful.

He still didn’t know who the painter named Kanou Yuuzan was. That wasn’t all – he didn’t feel like there was any real lead.

Find the reason the spirit is wandering and solve it – that was Ukikumo’s method of exorcism. It didn’t seem like much preparation had been done.

'Of course,’ said Ukikumo confidently, ignoring Yasohachi’s concerns.

'I can’t really believe that. In the first place…’

'Please believe in Ukikumo-dono for now. There is no other means to solve these strange incidents,’ Iori said firmly.

Sousuke could do nothing but be silent. Ukikumo gave Iori a glance before continuing.

'You brought the scroll, right?’

'Yes,’ responded Sousuke, unrolling Kanou Yuuzan’s painting.

Looking at it again like this, it really was unsettling.

'First, the question is who is painted in this painting.’

Ukikumo tapped the painting with his staff.

If the painting was cursed, that was quite rough handling of it.

'Who is it?’

Sousuke cocked his head. It seemed like he didn’t know.

'The samurai in this painting used to be in the Aoyama household,’ declared Ukikumo.

'How do you know that?’ interrupted Yasohachi, unable to keep silent.

Ukikumo glared at him as if to tell him to shut up, but Yasohachi couldn’t help his interest.

'Kanou Yuuzan, the painter, is a painter of the Kanou school as well as a shaman. He takes money from people with grudges and does curses for them – he’s a good-for-nothing.’

Ukikumo’s tone was angry.

So that was the sort of man Kanou Yuuzan was – Yasohachi finally understood. AHe understood why Ukikumo and Tenmei had so furiously tried to avoid involving themselves with him.

This case wasn’t just a supernatural phenomenon. A shaman was involved. It was a warning.

'So somebody put a curse on the Aoyama household because of a grudge?’ asked Sousuke.

'Yes,’ replied Ukikumo.

'Then it might be someone from outside the family.’

'No, it’s somebody from within. Look at that samurai’s haori. The mujisen crest[3] is on it, right?’

Everyone looked at the painting. There was a mujisen crest, just as Ukikumo had said.

'That is indeed our family crest – ’

Sousuke looked up.

'Is there any man who holds a grudge within the Aoyama household?’

'Even if you ask me that…’

'Then let’s change the question. Did any man in the Aoyama household die or go missing?’

Sousuke’s eyes flew open at Ukikumo’s question.

It seemed he had an idea.

'About a year ago, there was a retainer who broke a family vase. His name was Tacuchi Katsujirou. Matsuoka, the steward, reprimanded him harshly and he disappeared from the household that night…’

The sliding door opened, interrupting Sousuke’s words.

The person standing there was the very topic of their conversation, Matsuoka himself.

'What does the likes of an exorcist have to do with the Aoyama household?’ said Matsuoka accusingly. However, Ukikumo did not move.

'Shut up, you shameless man!’

'What!?’

'You were listening from outside, right? You rushed in because you heard your name am I wrong?’

It seemed Ukikumo was right on the mark. Matsuoka froze, his mouth gaping.

'You knew that the man in this painting was Taguchi, right?’

Ukikumo grabbed the painting and stood up, thrusting the painting in front of Matsuoka’s eyes.

Matsuoka looked away from the painting and sat down. Though he didn’t respond, that was response enough.

'Then the person named Taguchi had a grudge and requested Kanou Yuuzan’s services to curse this household?’ asked Yasohachi.

Ukikumo shook his head. 'No. The man named Taguchi is dead – right?’

Ukikumo looked at Iori.

Why was he looking at Iori? Yasohachi was confused, but he looked at Iori as well.

'That always bothered me. My brother said the same thing. That the ghost that appeared by the well seemed familiar – ’

Iori’s voice was hoarse.

'That was Taguchi-san?’ asked Yasohachi.

Iori nodded. 'I didn’t speak to him much, so I only knew his face and had completely forgotten. However, hearing this now, I’m certain that that was Taguchi-dono.’

Iori was probably not lying.

If he had appeared as a ghost –

'That means Taguchi-san is already dead,’ said Yasohachi.

Ukikumo smiled. 'Exactly. The body was probably thrown into the well.’

Ukikumo stood in the open doorway and pointed at the well in the back of the garden. Just like at the Hagiwara household, the well was covered and didn’t appear to be in use.

Here, Yasohachi recalled why the Hagiwara household well had fallen out of use. It had a strange smell and the water was dirty.

Wells of neighbouring households would be connected underground. The stench had probably been from Taguchi’s body.

'That’s too much,’ Sousuke said with a wry smile.

'I agree completely! What proof do you have for your words!? That’s just rude!’

Matsuoka’s voice was also rough.

'Shut up!’

Ukikumo hit the tatami with his staff.

The room fell silent under that force.

'You can find out if it’s a lie or the truth easily by searching the bottom of that well.’

When Ukikumo said that, Matsuoka let out an 'Urgh’. His forehead was drenched in sweat.

'Now – the question is who killed Taguchi…’

Ukikumo shut the sliding door and stood in the centre of the room, looking about it.

Under the glare of the eyes painted on the red cloth, everyone seemed to shrink.

'It was me…’

Somebody within the room spoke.

At first, it was so quiet that Yasohachi didn’t know who it was.

Finally, Matsuoka stood and said with resolve, 'I did it.’

He had been so angry at Taguchi for breaking the vase that he had killed him – it didn’t sound impossible, but it didn’t make sense to Yasohachi somehow.

Ukikumo smiled slightly, as if he had sensed what Yasohachi was feeling.

'Loyalty is a good thing, but that’s what drew out this incident.’

'What?’

Matsuoka’s eyes flashed open at Ukikumo’s words.

'Won’t somebody say who killed Taguchi – ’ murmured Ukikumo to no one in particular.

'You!’

With that yell, the sliding door opened.

A woman stood there. It was Okiku, the servant.

She was so agitated that her shoulders were heaving as she breathed and her eyes were bloodshot. She had a small knife in her hand.

'Wha!’

Iori quickly stood up and tried to go hold Okiku back, but Ukikumo stopped her.

'Who killed Taguchi?’ Ukikumo asked Okiku.

'Sousuke! You did it! Katsujirou-sama! Give Katsujirou-sama back!’ screamed Okiku as she glared at Sousuke.

'W-what are you saying? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Matsuoka did it. He said it just earlier.’

Sousuke sounded afraid, but he got up and held the sword by his side, unsheathing it to keep Okiku in check.

The small guestroom fell silent.

Yasohachi didn’t understand what was happening. He was bewildered.

Ukikumo skilfully used his staff win the small room to knock the sword out of Sousuke’s hand.

'W-what are you doing!?’

Matsuoka hurriedly tried to get up, but Ukikumo jabbed him in the gut.

Matsuoka bent over and stopped moving.

'Now, he’s unarmed. Okiku said that, but could you tell us the truth?

Ukikumo put his staff on his shoulder and turned towards Sousuke.

Okiku also approached Sousuke. She still had the knife in her hand.

Sousuke was still a samurai. Even if he was unarmed, he shouldn’t be afraid of a girl with a knife, but the atmosphere Ukikumo had brought about seemed to have taken away his ability to resist.

'That’s not true. There was no helping it. Taguchi had tried to betray… I tried to convince him. But he still…’

Sousuke backed away, pressing himself against the wall.

Though Yasohachi didn’t know the details, it seemed Sousuke had killed Taguchi.

After hearing Sousuke’s confession, Ukikumo nodded, seeming satisfied, and then stood in front of Okiku.

'That’s the end of it. You’ve been caught by a curse.’

'Move away! Katsujirou’s spirit won’t ascend unless I kill that man!’ yelled Okiku over Ukikumo. Then, she went for Sousuke. However, Ukikumo didn’t allow her.

He grabbed Okiku’s arm and forced her out into the garden.

Okiku fell to the ground. Perhaps she had fainted, as she was not moving.

-

11

-

'What on earth is happening?’ Yasohachi asked, half in shock.

'Can’t you tell?’ said Ukikumo as he left the room and stepped down into the garden. Yasohachi followed him.

'I’m asking because I can’t.’

'Okiku was the one who killed the servant and poisoned the retainer,’ said Ukikumo matter-of-factly. However, Yasohachi didn’t understand the logic.

'Why would you think that? Didn’t a ghost come out of the painting to kill the servant?’ Yasohachi asked pleadingly.

'Idiot. Don’t make me keep saying this. Ghosts don’t have a corporeal form – they can’t kill people.’

Ukikumo had said this often before.

Since Ukikumo could actually see ghosts, it was probably true. But –

'Even if a ghost didn’t kill them, it doesn’t have to be Okiku-san. It might have been someone else. That…’

Though Yasohachi avoided saying it aloud, he glanced at Sousuke and Matsuoka, who were still in the room, frightened.

'That servant had her throat slit, right?’

'You’re saying that the sword of a samurai would have left a different injury.’

Iori said the words that Ukikumo had held back.

'Ah,’ said Yasohachi, understanding now.

A sword would have left a larger cut. Even if the samurai had used a stab, it would have gone through the throat.

Though Yasohachi had not seen it himself, the injury of the servant who had been killed first had not been that deep.

'And how about the retainer who died coughing up blood?’

'It would be easy to mix poison in with the food. A servant would have had any number of chances to do so.’

Ukikumo’s words sounded logical, but Yasohachi hadn’t accepted everything yet.

'There are other servants.’

'Remember the first time we came here.’

Yasohachi understood now.

'Okiku-san was the one who said a ghost came out of the painting – ’

'But other retainers mentioned seeing a ghost too,’ objected Iori.

'Did they really see one?’ said Ukikumo with a hand on his chin.

'Eh?’

'Okiku said she saw one. Maybe that just made them think they saw one too/’

Iori bit her lower lip. It seemed she sensed what Ukikumo was trying to say.

Come to think of it, Okiku was the only one who had declared that she’d seen a ghost come out of the scroll.

'But why? Why would Okiku-san…’

Yasohachi looked at Okiku, who was lying on the ground in the garden.

'Revenge,’ replied Ukikumo, his voice a bit sad.

'Revenge?’

'Yes. Okiku and the dead Taguchi had probably been lovers. After Sousuke killed Taguchi, Okiku was turned into a demon of revenge.’

If it was as Ukikumo said, there was something that didn’t make sense.

'But the servant and retainer have nothing to do with it.’

'They do. Her aim was Sousuke, but the dead servant and retainer knew about Taguchi’s murder – or they had something to do with it.’

'But killing them is still…’

'I’m saying that this is Kanou Yuuzan’s curse,’ said Ukikumo with a bitter expression on his face.

'Do curses really exist?’ said Iori doubtfully.

'They do.’

'But something like that…’

'Curses aren’t just chants that bring about strange phenomena.’ Ukikumo looked at Iori with the eyes painted on the red cloth. 'Kanou Yuuzan burrows into people’s hearts, invites them into the darkness with his skilful words and changes them into demons. That in itself is a curse – ’

Ukikumo hit the ground with his staff.

As if that were a sign, Okiku staggered up.

Her face was pale. Her lips were twisted into a smile and her eyes were bloodshot. She looked just like a demon.

'Kanou Yuuzan put a curse on Okiku. He claimed that Taguchi’s spirit would wander hell for all eternity unless she took revenge.’

Ukikumo pulled the cloth off his eyes.

He revealed his red eyes under the moonlight. Since his back was turned towards the people in the room, they probably couldn’t see them.

'But that wouldn’t really…’ said Yasohachi in a strangled voice.

He understood what Ukikumo was trying to say, but was it really possible to manipulate people’s hearts like that?

'You’d think that if you were thinking normally, but Okiku’s lover had been killed. Furthermore – why do you think it took her a year to start her revenge?’

'Could it be…’

'Yes. Kanou Yuuzan took a year to slowly turn Okiku’s heart into a demon. If that isn’t a curse…’

Yasohachi felt a chill run down his spine.

He finally realised the terrifying nature of the curses by the person named Kanou Yuuzan. That was why Ukikumo had clearly not wanted to be involved.

'Can’t anything be done?’

'I came here to do something,’ said Ukikumo with a slight smile.

– Ah, of course.

Yasohachi felt relieved from the bottom of his heart. Ukikumo would be able to undo the curse on Okiku. Furthermore, Ukikumo wasn’t the sort of man who could ignore somebody in trouble.

Ukikumo took a deep breath and walked up to Okiku.

Okiku stumbled backwards, perhaps afraid of those red eyes.

'Can you see my eyes?’ asked Ukikumo.

Okik let out a small moan.

'My eyes can see ghosts. Taguchi is wandering this world even now. Why do you think he is?’

'Because of hate. He hates them.’

Okiku’s eyes, full of loathing, turned towards Sousuke and the others in the room.

'That isn’t it. Taguchi laments how you have turned into a demon.’

'Impossible. Katsujirou-sama wanders this world because of his hatred.’

Okiku shook her head furiously.

'Taguchi’s ghost appeared at the neighbouring Hagiwara household. Why do you think it did that?’

’…’

'If he hated the people of the Aoyama household, he should have been standing by their beds.’

Okiku made no reply to Ukikumo’s words. She was just taking loud breaths.

Ukikumo walked up closer to her. Okiku backed away. However, she hit the well and could not back away any further.

'It hurts. Help – Taguchi keeps repeating that. At first, I thought he wanted to be released, but that was not the case.’

'What…’

Okiku’s eyes flew open.

'Taguchi is suffering because it hurts him to see you as a demon. He is pleading because he wants somebody to help you, now that you have gone somewhere that you cannot return from.’

'No! No! No!’

Okiku let out a scream and waved her knife about madly.

The tip scratched Ukikumo’s arm.

Yasohachi hurriedly tried to run up to him, but Ukikumo stopped him.

'You can see him too, right? Taguchi,’ Ukikumo murmured, his voice kind.

Yasohachi couldn’t see anything, but it seemed to be different for Okiku. Her shocked eyes were wide open and she wasn’t moving.

The knife slipped out of Okiku’s hand –

'Aaahh!’

With a mix between a howl and a shout of joy, Okiku fell to her knees.

In that moment, Yasohachi felt like he could see Taguchi’s ghost standing in front of Okiku.

Maybe it was just an illusion, but –

'Is it over?’ Yasohachi asked.

Ukikumo shook his head.

'Nothing is over.’

'Eh?’

'The curse on Okiku has been undone. Do you understand the meaning of that?’

Ukikumo’s eyes were unusually frightening.

'Coming back to your senses means to know the weight of your crimes. She has killed two people. She will not be able to escape the death penalty.’

The one who spoke in a terribly dark voice was Iori.

'But that’s just… so sad…’ said Yasohachi in a hoarse voice.

If this was going to happen, wouldn’t it have been better if they hadn’t undone the curse on Okiku – Yasohachi almost thought that.

'It was already too late once the first servant died – ’ murmured Ukikumo.

Maybe that was the reason Ukikumo had wanted to step away from the case.

Even though Sousuke was the one who had caused everything, Okiku would have to suffer. Yasohachi didn’t know which was right.

Yasoachi looked at Sousuke, who was frozen in the room.

Ukikumo slowly looked towards Sousuke as well.

Under the glare of those red eyes, Sousuke let out an 'Eek!’.

A question came to Yasohachi now.

'Why did Sousuke-san kill Taguchi-san?’

As if to respond to Yasohachi’s question, there was the chime of a bell.

– Where is that coming from?

Yasohachi looked around and the bell chimed again.

Ting –

The sound of the bell seemed to be growing closer.

'If you’re here, come out already, Yuuzan – ’

Ukikumo looked towards the well.

Then – a man appeared from within the darkness.

He wore a straw hat that covered his face and a yellow sash over his kimono. He held a bell. Yasohachi had seen him before – it was the monk who had told Yasohachi that he had the shadow of death over him.

'Kanou Yuuzan – ’ said Ukikumo in a bitter voice.

Yasohachi held his breath without thinking as he looked at Kanou Yuuzan. He looked as sinister and frightening as the painting on the wall scroll.

Still he had a strange power that drew people in.

'It has been a while. So you call yourself Ukikumo now – ’

In complete contrast to Yuuzan’s dark look, his voice was refreshing. It was as beautiful as the chime of his bell.

'I can call myself whatever I want.’

'You seem rather angry. I had thought that you might be a bit happy at reuniting with me…’

'Shut up!’ yelled Ukikumo.

Though the likes of Yasohachi trembled under that force, Yuuzan showed a slight smile.

'Are you still angry about that? It’s your fault that person died – ’ said Yuuzan quietly. He slowly took off his straw hat.

The face that appeared was different from the one Yasohachi had imaged.

He was probably in his late twenties. With his white skin and almond eyes, he could have been mistaken for a woman.

Something about him reminded Yasohachi of Ukikumo.

'You’re the same as always. Enjoying yourself as you play with people’s hearts,’ spat out Ukikumo.

Though Yasohachi did not know how these two were connected, there seemed to be a deep mutual enmity.

'Even if you change your name, you will not change on the inside. No matter how much time passes, you cling onto sentiment. How many people do you think have suffered as a result?’ Yuuzan said in an indifferent tone.

'Shut up. I have my own way of doing things.’

'And so you arrived at exorcism – what a bizarre man you are.’

'You’re doing some bizarre curses yourself. If you want to assassinate people, just cut them down with a sword.’

'There are circumstances that forbid me from doing so,’ replied Yuuzan, his lips twitching up into a smile.

The smile was cold enough to make Yasohachi shudder.

'What sort of circumstances are those?’

The one who had asked was Iori.

Yuuzan glanced Iori’s way, but his glance immediately returned to Ukikumo.

'Well, I have come all this way, so I will tell you – Sousuke-san has recently been involved with extreme patriots who wish to overthrow the shogunate. They were planning to assassinate a certain person,’ said Yuuzan.

'A steward of the shogunate?’

'Close, but not quite – that is my only answer.’

Yuuzan seemed incredibly pleased as he responded to Ukikumo’s question.

'Why would that mean a curse on Okiku-san?’

Yasohachi tried to approach, but Ukikumo sotpped him.

'This is Yuuzan’s way.’

'Eh?’

'He used Okiku to bury Sousuke.’

'Used…’

'I don’t know who Sousuke was trying to assassinate, but Taguchi probably found out. That was why Sousuke killed him.’

'What about the vase?’

'Matsuoka made that up. Matsuoka probably knew that Sousuke had killed Taguchi. It would be a problem if a retainer suddenly disappeared. His loyalty made him make up the story about the vase.’

'What!?’

'The servant that was killed first and the poisoned retainer cooperated with Matsuoka. Yuuzan’s goal was always to bury Sousuke, and in a way that wouldn’t let anyone find out that the shogunate was involved – ’

'So he used Okiku-san…’

Even as Yasohachi spoke, he wanted to vomit.

He could feel with his skin the terrible nature of the man named Kanou Yuuzan. To Yuuzan, Okiku had only been a tool to achieve his goal.

Though he was smiling faintly, behind it was a darkness that swallowed everything.

'Several points in your guesswork are incorrect, but well, that is the gist of it. In any case, the plan has been torn asunder because of you.’

Yuuzan spread his hands out in a playful manner.

For some reason, he had a carefree smile on his face.

'You… You’re hiding something, aren’t you?’ asked Ukikumo.

Yuuzan nodded confidently.

'Yes. I laid another curse, in case something like this happened – ’

After saying that, Yuuzan shook the bell in his left hand furiously. The noisy chimes of the bell reverberated.

'Matsuoka-san, at this rate, the name of the Aoyama household will be damaged. Only you, the steward of the family, can stop this. Now, do what you must,’ Yuuzan said quickly, still ringing the bell.

'You bastard!’

Ukikumo seemed to have noticed something, as he knocked the bell out of Yuuzan’s hand with his staff.

The bell stopped ringing, and everything was silent.

'You were a bit too late.’

As Yuuzan smiled, there was a scream.

Yasohachi turned and saw Matsuoka stabbing Sousuke’s chest with his sword.

'What have you done!?’

Iori rushed over and tried to pull Matsuoka away.

However, her strength was not enough and she was pushed away.

'I will take responsibility with my life.’

Matsuoka pulled the sword out of Sousuke and this time stuck it in his own stomach.

Yasohachi and Ukikumo ran to Sousuke and Matsuoka, but it was too late. The two had stopped breathing.

'I was careless. You cursed Matsuoka too – ’ said Ukikumo in a bitter voice as he turned around.

Yasohachi turned around as well, but Yuuzan was already gone. All that was left was a painting, covered in blood –

-

epilogue

-

The next day, Yasohachi was in the Hagiwara household guestroom –

He was here to explain what had happened at the Aoyama household to Iori’s brother, Shintarou.

Yasohachi had been sure that Ukikumo would explain, but Ukikumo was just leaning against the wall and drinking sake. He made no move to speak.

That said, Yasohachi was not a good speaker. Parts of his explanation were vague, but Iori helped then.

'I see… Sousuke-dono did…’

Shintarou looked pained as he sighed.

'Brother, did you know anything?’ asked Iori.

Shintaro looked troubled, but he said, 'I didn’t think it was related to this case, but I had heard rumours that Sousuke-dono was involved with people who wanted to overthrow the shogunate.’

'I see…’

Iori cast down her eyes.

'What will happen to Okiku-san?’ asked Yasohachi.

Shintarou and Iori both looked pained.

'Okiku killed two people. She’ll probably get the death penalty.’

Ukikumo put his chin in his hand.

'That’s…’

Though Yasohachi opened his mouth to speak, there was nothing he could do no matter how he protested.

'Ukikumo-dono – would you allow me to ask one more thing?’ said Shintaro, turning to face Ukikumo formally.

'What?’ replied Ukikumo, still looking down.

'The person named Kanou Yuuzan received a request to bury Sousuke-dono, and that is why this incident occurred – but who on earth made that request of him?’

'You know even without asking, don’t you?’

Ukikumo’s words made Shintarou’s eyes narrow.

Though the two seemed to know, Yasohachi didn’t.

'Who is it?’ Yasohachi asked.

Ukikumo smiled bitterly.

'The Aoyama household is a powerful family employed by the shogunate. The situation would be bad for many people if it was found out that somebody from this family – even a branch one – wanted to overthrow the government. There was even a plan to kill a steward.’

Was it somebody from the main family who made the request? If that was the case –

'Don’t say any more, or we won’t be able to write it off as gossip,’ Ukikumo said firmly, as if he had read Yasohachi’s thoughts.

Then, Ukikumo said, 'That’s all then – ’ He stood up and tried to leave the room.

'Please wait. I have not given you your compensation – ’

'Don’t need it,’ Ukikumo said steadfastly.

'But…’

'Instead, get Taguchi’s corpse out of that well and give it a proper funeral,’ said Ukikumo, his back turned towards them.

'Understood,’ said Shintarou with a smile. Then, Ukikumo left.

No matter what Ukikumo said, he was a man with a kind heart.

'Er, if you would like, when the funeral is held, please take this painting as well – ’

After saying that, Yasohachi gave a painting to Shintarou.

He had painted it last night. It was a painting of Taguchi and Okiku by the well. He had wanted them to be happy, even if it was only in a painting.

'Oh! I had heard from Iori, but this painting is more beautiful than I imagined – ’

Shintarou’s smile filled his face.

Being praised like that made Yasohachi feel embarrassed. 'Somebody like me is just…’ he said humbly.

Iori smiled slightly. 'If Kanou Yuuzan’s paintings are ones of curses, than your paintings, Yasohachi-dono, are ones of condolence,’ said Shintarou with a nod.

Putting aside whether his paintings could be of any condolence, Yasohachi felt like he knew what would be his goal as a painter as he continued to paint in the future.

Yasohachi bowed towards Shintarou and Iori and followed Ukikumo out.

'Please wait – ’

Yasohachi finally caught up to Ukikumo at the Hagiwara household gate.

'What? Aren’t you going to paint that lass’s picture?’ Ukikumo said brusquely as he continued to walk.

– Ah!

Yasohachi’s original goal had been to paint Iori’s picture, but he had completely forgotten.

'There’s still next time.’

'If you say things like that, you’ll never get a chance to paint her.’

Ukikumo’s words made sense, but if Yasohachi painted Iori, he would lose his excuse to meet her.

'More importantly, there’s one thing I still don’t understand.’

'What?’

Ukikumo stopped.

'That painting – who brought it into the Aoyama household?’

'Okiku, probably. She switched it with a painting that was there before. Well, Kanou Yuuzan was probably the one who got her to.’

'Why?’

'That painting was a sign of the curse. It signified what was going to happen. That’s his way.’

Yasohachi thought about the painting on the wall scroll again.

The samurai standing by the well and the four heads hanging from his hand – it really was a painting of the incident.

The goal of putting that painting up may have been to unconsciously breed terror –

'How frightening – ’

'People’s hearts really are,’ spat out Ukikumo. He started to walk again. However, Yasohachi still had questions.

'Where did Kanou Yuuzan go? And do you know Kanou Yuuzan from before?’ Yasohachi said quickly as he ran after Ukikumo.

With a sigh, Ukikumo stopped again.

'I don’t know where that guy went. Just…’

'What is it?’

'I had planned on abandoning my connection to him, but it seems there are some connections that cannot be cut – ’

'What on earth does…’

Yasohachi wanted to ask what Ukikumo meant, but he had started walking again.

Yasohachi was about to run after him once more when he heard the refreshing chime of a bell.

He looked away frantically and thought, for just a moment, that he could see a monk in the distance.

– Is that?

Yasohachi wanted to say something, but then the figure disappeared.

Perhaps it had just been an illusion.

'Ah! Ukikumo-san! Please wait!’

Yasohachi came back to his senses and ran after Ukikumo –

-

At this time, Yasohachi had no way to know that the next incident had already begun –





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