After I slipped into a new and clean pair of thick robes and walked out of my room towards Azuri's, I heard Benjiro-san's muffled voice from behind the closed door.

"You can't afford another outburst. You'll harm Shizuka-san and yourself before the curse even lifts. Meditate. Get it under control."

Wow. Benjiro-san sounded strict. I never imagined that.

"I've done what you said! I've sat down, shut up, thought it over—It's useless! Stop acting like it's the easiest thing to do, Jii-san!" I heard Azuri snap.

"You're raising your voice again."

"Oh yeah? I totally tried to meditate. For like five seconds. Big win, right?!"

It's like I'm listening to a father dealing with his teenage son's anger issues. Azuri then groaned in annoyance, his voice turned low and bitter, "Tormenting that bastard was the only thing that shut the rage up! I'd do it again if I could! Should've torched his damn grave while I was at the mortal—AGH!"

The sharpness in his voice made me flinch. I slid the door just a crack and carefully peeked inside. Azuri clutched his chest, breath ragged, as if pain had settled deep inside him. His robes were clean, but the bandages around his neck and wrists stood out stark against pale skin.

Benjiro-san watched him with worry but maintained a cool expression, his hand on Azuri's shoulder, "I'll take my leave then."

I stepped back, quietly pulling the door shut and returning to my room, just in time to hear Benjiro-san's voice retreat.

"Rest well, Master Kashiki."

The sound of his footsteps faded into silence as he climbed down to the floor below. That must've been what Azuri meant when he said he forgot something. Not burning Mochizuki's grave let him come back. Even after everything Azuri did, that man still returned. That's how an undead ghost is truly erased. You destroy the last piece tying them to this world. It's hard to believe.

Benjiro-san's words from earlier then echoed in my mind.

"What's it this time, Jii-san?" Azuri grumbled when I slid his door open. His hair was loose and clean. The top of his yukata was undone, exposing the livid skin of his toned torso as he was busy wrapping his arms and wrists with bandages. His bare back, scraped by a few scars, was facing me. I'm surprisingly calm after looking at a man's body for the first time.

"If you're just gonna sit there for nothing, might as well head out—"

He paused when he turned to me. Sorry, I interrupted you, mister angry Kashiki the great!

"It's you. What's that face for?" He snorted. "Thought you'd lost me for good? C'mon. It takes more than an army to kill this handsome bastard."

I glared at him with the 'okay, okay, you're all that' face.

"So . . . What do you want?" He asked before continuing, wrapping the bandages tightly around his wrists. "Let me guess. You can't sleep alone? Can't promise I'll stop myself, though."

Part of me just wants to kick his head! But it's getting late, and I'm too tired to carry that kind of anger right now. I closed the door and approached him, before kneeling just behind him. I'd get embarrassed too, and not face someone if I had a lot of injuries around my body.

There should be a paper or a brush for me to write my questions in, but there's none in sight despite how cramped the room is. I came here for nothing! How embarrassing!

While the medical kit is here . . . I might as well-

"OW!"

Azuri choked, making me flinch. Maybe I dipped the cotton bud in too much sake. I barely brushed it over a scar on his back.

"That stings! Easy, easy! Is that what you're here for? Unless this is your way of showing me you're into me, then carry on—OW!"

I pinched his ear. "Okay, okay! I was just kidding!" he chuckled—just never stops teasing! Of course he was enjoying this. I sighed and worked more gently.

. . . . . . . . .

"You saw that, didn't you? Everything?" He asked out of the blue, his gaze at the window, through the pitch black skies.

Midnight must've passed already. Oh. That, Yes, that. I spent an hour watching that. Every second of it. I felt like stopping it. But I knew I wouldn't survive it if I did.

Rubbing his cheek, he uttered with a chuckle, "Yeah, no way this cheek's still burning for nothing."

My face flushed. I guess I slapped him too hard! But I had to do it to get him back to his senses. He looked like he was about to pull out my intestines and drink my blood like a bloodthirsty beast. I had to admit. I was scared. More scared than when I saw him in the ceremony, massacring priests, that I couldn't move.

That terrible night. I just ran and ran. I don't know why I didn't stop him from torturing Mochizuki, or at least try to leave. It wasn't like I was against it in some way. Mochizuki deserved it. I'd do the same, if I were Azuri. So why did it feel . . . off?

"Hey, Mari. Thanks." He uttered without facing me. I couldn't tell the look on his face, but I felt mine growing hot. I didn't expect that. It kind of caught me off guard. It was only one word. Just one. A simple one.

But it was enough to make my chest feel warm.

Azuri stood up and closed his robes when I wasn't done tending to his wounds yet. "Got something to show you. Don't worry, I'll behave. Unless you ask real nice."

That alone made him suspicious. Still, I followed. He wouldn't mess around this late . . . I hoped.

❁

Wow! I never knew Benjiro-san's pawn shop would have a rooftop! The ghost realm sure is mesmerizing.

Azuri chuckled, "Lie down like this. Trust me, it works better. The snow's cold, so deal with it." He lay down on the floor full of dust and snow, facing the starry skies. I did the same next to him. A bit of dust on me doesn't bother me a bit. I've never seen the night sky this way before. Right now, the snowflakes felt like falling stars.

It was breathtaking. Azuri never struck me as someone who enjoys stargazing. It reminded me that I really need to find new hobbies other than sewing, reading, and praying.

"You don't see this much in Matsuryoku, do you?" Azuri asked, his head turning to me. I nodded. Matsuryoku's skies are always dim. Even at night, the stars stay hidden behind thick clouds. Only the moon manages to shine through.

"Man. That's really fucked up."

Tell me about it. But just you wait. Once I die and spring comes, Ayumi and Kenichi will get to see this kind of sky, while they get to bask in the warm sunlight during the day! I hoped Michiko was able to experience spring too, wherever it is that she went with her lover.

I giggled out of nowhere.

"Heh . . . You're kinda creeping me out. Getting soft on me, aren't you?" teased Azuri. I eagerly nodded, and he paused in surprise. It somewhat surprised me, too.

"Hm. For someone who's mute, you're surprisingly honest."

For someone who's a murderer, he's surprisingly childish. Though, it's refreshing being next to this version of Kiri no Tsujigiri. Instead of getting caught up in the mess of a violent killer, I found a friend. Azuri Kashiki. They're like two completely different people.