At dawn, snow began to fall over the lake.
The lake shore, empty of passing vehicles, was as quiet as if it had frozen over. Snow-covered mountains could be dimly seen on the other side of the emerald lake. The silence was so deep it hurt the ears.
A man descended down to the wharf. From there he could finally make out the faint susurration of waves. He stopped at the tip for a while to gaze over the moving waters of the lake. He was tall and handsome, wearing a white sweater that was very becoming to him. He had put on a warm down coat but no gloves, and his exposed hands soon grew numb with cold.
The door of the rest house opened with a small creak.
“Do you not think it would be better to come inside?” said a voice behind him. It belonged to a man several years older wearing a duffel coat. He had an angular face with a somewhat hooked nose and was in his late thirties. Though he looked senior in age, by his demeanor and language he marked himself the other man’s subordinate. “This wind will do you an injury. You’re still convalescing; you need to be careful with your health.”
“It’s all right. I just want to take in a little fresh air.”
“You mustn’t push yourself too hard. This is a critical time. Please come back inside...”
What a worrier, the man thought, smiling silently. Truth be told, he wasn’t quite in top physical form. He had regained his strength little by little, but it would take more time before he would be ready to fully exert himself.
“It’s all right. The temperature makes it easier for me to fine-tune my mental conditioning. Don’t worry, I won’t overdo it.”
“Wave alignment?” His subordinate’s attitude suddenly became quite serious. “How did it go? ...Were you able to complete the synchronization?”
“Yes. The wavelengths have always been compatible. As of now it’s perfect. So much so that sometimes I almost forget my own body is right here.” The man added in a deep quiet voice, “It may have something to do with this place as well. It’s like a fine antenna. I could not ask for better spiritual qualifications. My sensitivity has gone way up. What a fine spot you’ve given me—” And the man named his subordinate: “Hakkai.”
Who earnestly shook his head. “No, it was not I. ...It was him.”
“Yes, of course.” The man’s eyes fell, and his head tilted downward. “How are they? Has there been any unusual activity?”
“The Nabeshima incident has been resolved, the ringleader «exorcised», the remnants subsumed, a new Lady in White installed in Saga
. They’re currently battling the Nagano Clan of the Kantou region.”
“I wouldn’t have expected anything less...” he said, smiling. The lake’s cold air entered his lungs and induced a small coughing fit. The man felt a slight pain in his chest and hunched over.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. ...You needn’t worry. You’ve been of great help to me.”
“I’ve only done what is expected of me. I am your subordinate. I follow your every order, I offer assistance, I am at your beck and call—that is my mission.”
“Mission, hmm...?” The man’s smile looked rather sardonic. “Fine words. I know a man who has lived for four hundred years by declaiming those words.”
“...”
“But take away the pretense, and he would continue to live. No matter how he may seek succor in death, I don’t doubt he will continue to live in order to save himself.”
“...”
“—Thus he has survived until now.”
A cold wind passed through the Japanese white birch forest. Hakkai stared fixedly at the back of the man gazing at the lake, who appeared to have acclimated to the cold.
“Are you yet uncertain of your decision?”
“...”
“What are your intentions?”
The man looked pained. He quietly dropped his reddish-brown eyes.
“If it were you, could you come to an immediate decision, Hakkai?”
“I...” Hakkai began, and paused for a moment. But he immediately continued without hesitation, “If it be his dying wish.”
“You’d obey?”
Hakkai fell silent at the sudden harshness of his tone. The man frowned, listening attentively to the rippling waves. Countless snowflakes disappeared into the murky depths of the lake. Powdery snow fluttered down from heavy clouds to land on his shoulders, where they melted into nothingness.
From the wharf, he gazed at the deep lake and vast heart of the outspread mountains...and recalled another lonely scene. The man murmured, low, seeing again that face and melancholy back, “—Maybe I’m just cold.”
The man quietly held out a hand to catch a snowflake. Unable to grasp anything but brittle air, those lonely arms folded as if holding someone in their embrace, his hands clenching as they stopped at his chest. He quietly closed his eyes and murmured something in a hushed voice that his subordinate couldn’t make out.
Biting back the words, the man’s eyebrows drew together in pain before he finally turned his gaze again to the lake deep in the mountains.
Pure white snow engulfed his field of vision. Perfect silence fell again over the celestial lake, which was so simply there—so deeply, quietly there, that it seemed capable even of dissolving desire, sentiment, and hope.
The weak winter sun shone on the Kasumigaseki business high-rise area.
Much of the heavy snow that had fallen on the Kantou two days ago had melted in yesterday’s sun. Asphalt could be seen again everywhere in the inner city, and the capital city had resumed its normal functions.
Thin wintry sunlight flowed into the room. Shidehara’s gaze moved from a view bristling with government buildings to his colleague.
The building was located in a corner of Kasumigaseki. Named the Special Inquiry Division, this department was a unique section that fell under the direct supervision of the National Public Safety Commission and was only established when its work and expertise were deemed necessary. It dealt with unusual, peculiar, wide-area cases that presented intractable challenges to juristictional police. Its agents were professionals in a variety of fields and were temporarily assigned to the division according to the case and their competencies. Subject matter experts were appointed to the Division from both public and private spheres, and for the length of the investigation were vested with various authority. Members were sometimes also added during the course of the investigation according to operational needs.
This time, the Special Inquiry Division had been signed into existence a year ago. Its purpose: to investigate and present a complete picture of the string of strange occurrences known as ’Wide-Area Peculiarities #36".
The lead investigator had been selected from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, a prosecuting counsel named Sakaki Shuuichi.
Today Sakaki had been called upon by Shidehara, chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, to visit him in his office.
“I was shown your report of last month quite promptly. I see you are in the midst of heroic efforts,” Shidehara said, hands clasped on his enormous desk.
“Thank you very much.”
“But the going has been rough?”
As if Shidehara’s words had pricked him, Sakaki’s bowed head jerked up. “It has been rough going,” he agreed with good grace. Shidehara sighed hugely, his eyes falling to the massive file.
“...So everything in ‘#36’ has been classified type VII: curse/ghost event? I never thought this designation would be used in actuality. I hoped it never would, even in the worst case.”
“I concur,” Sakaki answered in a low voice. “Matsumoto, Sendai, Nikkou, Hagi...and Hiroshima. We promptly conducted a coordinated investigation of the abnormal events in each city. In Sendai and Nikkou in particular...” Sakaki trailed off as if the words were difficult for him to say, “...the evidence heavily suggests that magic rituals were performed.”
“I don’t want to accept that such things are real,” Shidehara growled, deeply troubled. Sakaki straightened with resolve.
“Neither do I. I feel certain there must be a scientific explanation, some conclusive evidence that puts such superstitions as ghosts to rest.”
“I look forward to such an explanation.”
“We are currently conducting interviews with potential suspects. I’m also meeting with former Councilor Ueshima this week. He appears to be deeply concerned with the case in Sendai. I will submit a report of my findings.”
“Mmn.”
“There is one more matter I would like to bring to your attention today.”
“Yes?”
“Regarding this young man.” Sakaki extracted the photograph he always carried with him from the notebook in his inner pocket and presented it to Shidehara. It appeared to have been taken at a harbor someplace and featured a striking rough-eyed youth of eighteen or nineteen in jeans and a leather jacket. The picture had been magnified but was quite clear thanks to computer image processing.
“We believe this young man is connected to the whole series of destructive events. We know who he is.”
“You’ve identified him?”
“His name is Ougi Takaya.” Behind his glasses, Sakaki’s eyes glinted. “Nagano Prefecture Matsumoto City resident, nineteen years old. Currently attending prefectural Jouhoku High School.”
“...A Matsumoto junior high school student?” Shidehara looked surprised. “The same youth said to have ridden a dragon at Miya Island? It had the media in an uproar. A very interesting story, given the many witnesses. You have not yet ascertained his current location?”
“We are still investigating. But there is a material witness we wish to call on in order to clarify some matters...”
“Ah. Very well, I am confident you will put forth your best effort.”
There came a knock at the door, and Sakaki turned.
“Pardon the interruption.”
Along with the gentle voice entered a woman in a double suit. She was around thirty and had the look of an office lady. Her intelligent face was framed by a bob-cut, and her tall slender form was adroitly balanced on navy high heels.
“There you are. We’ve been waiting for you,” Shidehara began, and stepped up beside Sakaki. “Allow me to make the introductions. This is your new investigator, Nikaidou Reiko-kun. I believe she will be of great help to the ‘#36’ investigation. Nikaidou-kun, this is chief investigator Sakaki Shuuichi-kun.”
“It’s a pleasure you meet you.” Her strong-willed black eyes looked straight at Sakaki.
“I look forward to working with you,” he answered, extending his hand, “...Miss ‘Psychic’.”
Nikaidou returned Sakaki’s disparaging tone with a glare.
Sakaki casually turned back to Shidehara.
“I trust she will be of great help, thank you. We will continue to do our best with this investigation.”
“Good. I trust you will.” Shidehara clapped both investigators on the shoulder. “Now there is a matter I’d like you to investigate immediately with Nikaidou-kun. It may or may not have a connection to ‘#36’. ...A deadly curse may be involved.”
Reiko’s face turned grim. “Deadly curse...?”
“Let me tell you the details. I apologize for springing such a difficult assignment on you just as you’re taking up your new position.”
“Not at all,” Reiko and Sakaki both responded, and then gave each other sidelong glares.
Winter light thrust through the spaces between the buildings. Shidehara looked out the window, somewhat dazzled.
A light bright as lightning tore apart the night’s darkness, brushed past him, and split apart into countless branching streaks. Where it touched his «goshinha», it crackled and burst into sparks. But he ran after the fugitive in unflinching pursuit.
“Geh...!”
A tall concrete wall rose up before him: a dead end in the warehouse quarter. The fugitive turned to look behind him with terror on his face. He had no place left to run.
“Looks like it’s the end of the road for you, Nagano Narimori.”
It rattled his quarry.
Tiger’s eyes glittered in the darkness.
Steadying his breath, Ougi Takaya slowly approached.
“Damn...you, Uesugi...!”
“You might as well stop this useless resistance and prepare yourself. You don’t want to suffer any more, do you?”
“As if I‘d ever surrender to the likes of you!” the fugitive yelled with desperate defiance. “A place like this cannot be our ’end’! Until I have avenged myself, I will crawl up out of Hell no matter how many times you send me there!”
“You want to fall to hell that badly?” Takaya slowly gathered his «power», eyes glinting. “...A full stop was appended to your lives four hundred years ago. You want a re-do, have yourself be reincarnated.”
“I am Nagano Narimori! This cannot be the ‘end’ for Nagano Narimori!” Narimori yelled with bloodshot eyes, and mustered every remaining bit of his power. “I’ll kill you and send you to Hell!”
“!”
Boom!
The heavy power burst up from beneath his feet with a roar, gouging the asphalt. The weight of it took Takaya by surprise.
“Grah—!”
A sparkling golden light gushed from Narimori’s body and shot countless vicious glowing arrows at Takaya.
“Guh!”
Takaya cast a «goshinha». The swarm of arrows pounded against it like raindrops. The last resistance of a cornered man contained unbelievable power.
“Go to hell, Uesugi!”
Narimori upped the voltage. As he gritted his teeth and poured all his power into a «goshinheki», Takaya finally got down to business and called forth «choubukuryoku» from the depths of his body...!
“This is the end, Narimoriiii!”
A spasm of fear crossed Narimori’s face at Takaya’s overwhelming fervor. But at that moment Takaya jolted, and his eyes widened with surprise.
(What...!)
The danger he instinctively sensed came not from his enemy, but from himself. If felt as if something were about to fly out of him.
“Aa...aah!”
The «power» from within overflowed and gushed out of him as if it had shoved a door out of the way. As if all control had slipped out of his grasp—that feeling.
(Oh no...!)
It was pouring out! As he tried to stopper it, Narimori took advantage of his moment’s hesitation.
“Take this!” Narimori shot an arrow of will at Takaya.
“Guh!”
It caught him in his moment of defenselessness and ripped through his clothes and skin. Countless bright points of pain pierced him as if he were burning from the inside out, and Takaya lost control over his will completely.
“Guh...aaah—!”
Takaya screamed as his will swelled up and surged out of him. He had no way of stopping it!
“!”
Spilling out in inconceivable quantities with a force akin to a river bursting out of its levee, his will furrowed the asphalt, created razor whirlwinds, and swooped down on Narimori in curling swirls.
“Gyaaah!”
Fresh blood splattered against the wall behind Narimori. Blood covered Narimori as a large razor whirlwind ripped through him.
Takaya’s eyes widened. No! He had to stop this.
“Graaaah...!”
Takaya frantically attempted to shut away his will. He desperately groped inside himself, trying to regain control, trying to hold back his overflowing power with both arms.
“Guh...!”
His eyes opened wide. He’d caught hold of it! He’d taken control!
“! ”
His will became his again. As the same time, Takaya spotted Narimori slipping out of his crumbled body.
“—!”
As Narimori looked over his shoulder, Takaya caught him with an «outer bind». The haggard spirit was paralyzed. Takaya emphatically joined his hands together in the ritual gesture of Bishamonten.
“Noumakusamanda bodanan baishiramandaya sowaka!”
White light gathered in his fists. It quickly intensified and swelled into a beautiful spherical mass.
“Namu Tobatsu Bishamonten! For this demon subjugation, lend me thy power!” Takaya boldly proclaimed towards the empty sky. "«Choubuku»!
!
The white orb of purifying light exploded, lifting Takaya’s hair and swallowing everything around them. The bound soul screamed soundlessly as he was engulfed.
The dazzling luminescence that had swallowed the darkness whirled and eddied and carried Narimori off to the other world.
Darkness returned.
Takaya fell to his knees. His heart thumped furiously. He couldn’t seem to catch his breath. The wild burst of will had strained his heart. He slumped to the ground, face bloodless, a hand pressed against his painfully throbbing heart.
He could hear a distant voice calling his name. Someone was... It was...Chiaki.
Feeling the coldness of the asphalt against his cheek, Takaya’s eyes drifted shut.
(He’s calling for me...)
His heart hurt as if it were about to rupture. His wounds throbbed.
Takaya’s eyes closed. He hurt all over. He wanted someone to hold him.
It hurts...
(Come to me—...)
Takaya gritted his teeth against the pain. It felt like the agony of death.
He dug his nails into the asphalt. He hurt.
(Hurry...)
Then, suddenly—
Something white flickered in the darkness. He lifted his eyes as a tiny point of cold landed on his burning cheek.
A light snow was falling from a square of city night sky.
For some reason, Takaya felt warm wherever it landed on him. He felt as if someone’s hopes and affection were floating down around him, wrapping around him. His heart hurt just a little less.
Come to me now...it said.
Takaya called out into the empty sky as if in response: I’m right here—
I don’t want any arms but yours.
Lift me in your embrace,
And banish this pain.
I hear your voice from so far away.
I can hear your voice.
Come.
I want you...to come to me now.
Pure white snow fluttered endlessly from the empty sky
and landed on the forlorn back slumped there on the asphalt calling a name.
As if wrapping around him.
—I will come back to you.
I will be with you...
So that I can hold you close.