They parted and Seiho remained in his spot until the dense forest covered his frame. Tourists poured in from the main road heading toward the temple to pray and pay their respects to their dead loved ones. Nagisa slowed down as a group of elderly tourists crossed paths with him and glanced at the Osore-zan Temple’s main building.
He had intended to go to the hotel first, but decided it was better to look for theitakoshaman he’d spoken to yesterday. Making his way toward the temple, Nagisa saw her standing still by the building, her hands resting on the cane.
“You reek of death, boy,” the shaman said as soon as he reached her. She frowned, her closed eyes wrinkling at the corners.
“Could we go some place quiet to talk?” he asked. He wasn’t particularly excited by the idea, but it was necessary to find information.
She tapped the ground with her cane twice, then pointed to a side building of the temple and headed toward it without a word. Nagisa took it as a cue to follow her. Reaching the wooden stairs, she took off her sandals and Nagisa took off his boots, both ascending the stairs leading to anengawaveranda with shiny, polished wooden floors.
Theitakoslid open the door and entered a room, closing the door once Nagisa was inside. She offered him a cushion and poured tea, passing it to him.
“Thank you.” Nagisa bowed and took a sip. There was no way to go about it and he decided to get straight to the point, hoping he didn’t sound too crazy. “Have you heard of the Castle of Bones?” he asked.
She nodded, taking her time drinking tea.
“Do you know of the jikininki as well?”
“We all know,” she replied.
A pang of annoyance made Nagisa’s lip twitch, but he kept his tone polite. “Have you considered exorcising the monster? Or whatever the shamans do?”
“We do not exorcise, boy, we’re spiritual mediums. We communicate with spirits, and sometimes, we guide. The gates are sitting right there.” She waved toward the direction of Lake Usori. “All the spirits need is a little guidance.”
“I’d consider some need a serious shove. Why let the monster roam free? It kills people.”
“And we warn people not to go there.”
Nagisa set his cup down. “Well, that’s not enough now, is it?”
“We’re not responsible for other people’s decisions,” she rasped. “Many fall prey to the ghosts’ wrath, boy, just as they fall prey to the wrath of the living.”
“It’s only one creature and a lot of shamans here. Can’t you… guide it to the afterlife?”
She picked the ceramic kettle and poured herself more tea, filling Nagisa’s cup as well. “Reiryokucovers the area around the castle. A dark one. It keeps those like me from entering, but those like you—with no powers—can step in. While that energy is there, we can’t do anything.”
“There’s a man there, trapped with the monster. He’s been there for centuries, moving the castle from this realm to the afterlife and back here. He’s the one who created the barricade of energy. We need to save him—”
“We will not do that,” theitakosaid. “If what you say is true and that man stepped through the veil, he doesn’t belong in this world anymore. He belongs to the other side.”
Nagisa’s nails dug into his knee. “He is still alive! The jikininki is keeping him trapped.”
“Jikininki can’t trap living people. He’s there of his own choice.”
“The monster threatened him. He has no alternative.”
Theitakoraised her head, the frown gone, swapped with a sad look. “There’s always a choice.”
Nagisa gritted his teeth. “And what, exactly, should he choose to do to escape that place?”
“Death is his only salvation.”
CHAPTER 7
Murmurs and soft footsteps echoed from beyond the thin paper doors. Nagisa focused on them just so he wouldn’t have to focus on theitakotelling him Seiho couldn’t be saved.
He didn’t want to believe her. Not being able to pass the barricade sounded like such a feeble excuse.
“What if he takes down thereiryoku?” he asked. “Would it be possible to guide the ghost or whatever you do?”