After closing the door and latching it, the man sighed. “It probably went back to finish the corpse,” he said. “You can’t leave yet. You’ll need to stay here until morning.”
So it reallywaseating a human. Nausea hit him again. White spots blurred his vision. The man ran to the shelves and returned with a bucket, shoving it underneath Nagisa’s mouth. He threw up, emptying his stomach of his dinner.
“I’m sorry,” Nagisa mumbled.
The man patted his back, then put the bucket aside.
“Thank you,” Nagisa said. “Would it have killed and eaten me?”
“Yes. The creature you saw is the late lord of this castle. He turned into a jikininki. A corpse-eating ghost.”
“Shit… shit…!” he breathed, panicking again. He’d been so sure this was a prank. He’d nearly entered that room, thinking it was one of his friends. The damn castle really was haunted.
The man placed his hands on Nagisa’s shoulders, squeezing lightly. “Take it easy. You’re all right now.”
His touch was somewhat reassuring. At least Nagisa wasn’t alone with the ghost.
“Do you live here?” Nagisa asked.
“Yes. My name is Seiho.”
“I’m Nagisa. You have a rare name. It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Seiho bowed.
“How are you still alive? Does the monster not know you’re here? Why don’t you leave this place?”
Seiho offered him a sad smile. “I’m bound to the castle. Have been for many years because of a deal I made with the jikininki. I promised it something, and, in return, the creature allows me to live.”
“Promised what?” Nagisa whispered.
Bringing his palm to his chest, Seiho rubbed his thumb over the kimono’s material. “My heart.”
“What? How could you possibly give your heart? You look…”
“Alive?” Seiho chuckled. “I promised that, before my death, I’ll give the lord my heart. Jikininki eat corpses, but this one has a taste for living hearts too. Always fails to get to them, though. The thrill of the hunt excites the creature so much it always kills its victims.”
Nagisa felt bile coming up again as he listened to Seiho’s words. He couldn’t imagine how someone would agree to live like this, sharing space with a corpse-eating ghost.
“Have you ever tried to escape?” Nagisa asked.
“The lord would kill me for breaking my vow. After a while, I got used to staying here even in these conditions. Better alive than dead.”
Nagisa wasn’t sure he agreed with that. Death looked like mercy compared to living his life with a ghost. What was the point of existing if all he could do was walk around the halls of a haunted castle?
“Sleep,” Seiho said. “There are only a few hours until dawn. You’ll be able to leave then. The jikininki isn’t active in daylight.”
“Come with me. If the creature isn’t active, then you can leave.”
Seiho shook his head. “Can’t do that. If I try anything, I’ll bring the jikininki’s wrath upon the temple and the towns nearby.” Seiho nodded toward thefuton. “Go to sleep.”
“I want to stay awake. If that thing comes—”
“It won’t. But, as you wish.” Seiho stood and picked up a large bowl. He poured water from the steaming kettle, then a bit more from a second, cold kettle. “Use it to wash,” he said, setting it in front of Nagisa. “If you’re thirsty I can pour you a cup, but you might get a stomachache. The water isn’t clean. You’re from the city, aren’t you?”
Dipping his hands into the warm water Nagisa washed his face. “Yeah,” he answered, then rinsed his mouth, getting rid of the vomit taste. “I’m from the capital. Came here on a week-long trip with friends to visit some cities in Aomori Prefecture.”
“Oh, from Edo. That’s far.”