Shiki: Volume 2

by Fuyumi Ono

  "I am not hurting anywhere."

  The one who agreed with this was her mother-in-law Tomiko.

  "That's right. Ojii-san is of a strong nature. In the first place you worry too much. You're kicking up a fuss right away."

  "But..."

  Tomiko raised her voice. "Well, Ojii-san is a child of man, of course he will get just a little sick from time to time! But, it can be cured by going into the mountains and sweating it off! Those who get sick? It's because they're not taking care of themselves! Ojii-san has been working hard all this time, getting up early, and not staying up late. He neither drinks nor smokes. So what in that would you say is ill?!"

  "Yes.... but...."

  "Enough," Iwao said frankly in poor humor. "I'll go to bed early tonight. That will cure it."

  After that Motoko kept her mouth closed without pushing strongly anymore but as expected she couldn't help that it was on her mind. Iwao wasn't just healthy, he was in high spirits for an old man, and when he was in poor humor he was nagging and critical. It wasn't like him to keep his mouth shut aside from saying the minimal amount necessary, and while when he was displeased it was enough for Motoko and others to cower in fear, he wasn't aspiring to be terrifying. And the next day he didn't look to be cured. Iwao and Tomiko persisted as ever that it was nothing but when Motoko couldn't bare her unease and, flustered, opened her mouth, the two became angry with her.

  Neither Iwao nor Tomiko had liked Motoko's timidity to start with. Being fearful and prone to worry was to Iwao and his wife a weakness, and weakness was not a good thing. You don't speak clearly, you hem and haw whenever talking about anything, you worry too much, you're always getting headaches and stomachaches, Motoko's in-laws complained of her. Motoko was like that, so their grandchildren were also neurotic, they always shouted at Motoko. She herself was actually quite aware that she was too faint hearted, so Motoko was eager not to worry, not to brood, but she never did manage her father and mother-in-law's approval.

  "In what way was he sick?" Asked by Toshio, Motoko said he 'felt' off. Toshio sighed. "Medically speaking?"

  "No... Ojii-chan had said that it would improve if he slept, so...."

  Tomiko's face snapped up. "That's right. It's true, he has never once been bedridden. Well, he was a sturdy person, he'd never taken poor care of himself!"

  Okay, was all Toshio said. "Probably acute heart failure. Beyond that, I won't know unless I do a medical autopsy."

  "Autopsy..." Motoko felt her color drain. "Uhm, you're doing to disect Ojii-san?"

  "That is not funny!" Tomiko sobbed as her voice raised. "It'd be preposterous to mangle Ojii-san!"

  "It's because he hadn't seen a doctor. Essentially, since he didn't die within 24 hours of the last time I saw him, I can't write out a medical certificate."

  Tomiko glared at Toshio. "I understand. ---Then, how much do I have to put out for you to write the medical certificate?"

  "Mother-in-law!" Motoko cried out, looking between Toshio and Tomiko.

  "And what could you mean by that?"

  "Isn't that what this is about? If I don't put out what's to be put out, you're saying you won't put out a medical certificate."

  "That isn't what I'm saying." Even an outsider could tell that Toshio was in a foul mood. "You're the one saying your husband was healthy. Just why is it that a healthy person would suddenly die? Something was wrong with him. But I guess that you don't want to know what was wrong with him."

  "Knowing something like that doesn't make it something we can take back now.."

  "Well, that's true." Toshio's voice held naked thorns. "You can't take back not bringing him to a doctor when he was sick."

  Tomiko glared at Toshio and then turned to face Motoko.

  "It's because you're always being such a burden!"

  Without thinking, Motoko stepped back, blinking.

  "Go to the hospital, the hospital, you say that on a daily basis! Because you make a big fuss over nothing! That's why Ojii-san--that's why!"

  Tomiko fell prostrate to the ground as if losing her words, voice raising up in a sobbing wail. Motoko's husband Isami rushed over to pat his mother's back. Toshio patted Motoko's shoulder as she huddled into herself. He quietly ushered her out of the room.

  "....It'd be best not to mind too much. Obaa-chan's on edge."

  "Yes...."

  Toshio sighed. "It's because I blamed her. I have no excuse. Well, Iwao-san himself is probably regretting having too much faith in his own health."

  That's true, Motoko mumbled. "Uhm, the autopsy?"

  "I won't force it. To be honest I want to push it but, I can't very well ignore the wishes of the bereaved family. It's just, I can't write 'cause unknown' on a medical certificate, that is the truth."

  "Yes... I am very sorry."

  "I wonder if I can at least get a blood sample, though. I'd like even the smallest amount you can give me. If I can't have that, it's going to be a problem on my end too, so."

  "Yes, but," Motoko looked towards the six mat room. Would Tomiko really give the okay?

  "I'll be doing post-death procedures, so if you could just get your mother in law out of her seat. At that time, I'll manage something."

  Motoko felt unsure but nodded. Toshio said his thanks and returned to the six mat room. He explained it to Tomiko and had her leave her seat. Told to bring a change of clothes, Motoko went to seek them out.

  "Mom, did something happen?"

  When she went to the second story, Shigeki and Shiori were uneasily peeking their faces out from their room.

  "A little bit," Motoko said as if she were talking in her sleep. "We have a guest, so don't come out of your room."

  Looking over the two as they nodded, Motoko felt something in her stomach.

  She should tell them properly. That grandpa died. But, she didn't know how to convey his sudden death. She cramped at the idea of hurting them by telling them artlessly. ---Wasn't it unjust of her mother in law to say like that that she worried too much? Actually, Motoko herself thought that she over-thought some things. Wavering like this, telling a lie for the time being, might have done them unnecessary harm. In the end, she couldn't come to a decision on what to do without consulting someone to tell her 'let's do this.'

  Breathing a heavy sigh, Motoko entered the closet. Until he was placed in the coffin in the white funeral robes, it was customary for them to wear normal sleepwear, a yukata, or otherwise a kimono. Tomiko had said a yukata, so a yukata would likely be fine. Digging through the drawers, she took out as nice of one as she could find.

  (And now, we're having a funeral too...) Motoko thought absently. It was summer when the old people had died in Yamairi. Just a while ago there was another funeral. An acquaintance of her friend Kanami---to be more specific, someone Kanami's mother had gotten along well with had died, it seemed. At Kanami's Chigusa, since summer, gossip of the continuing deaths and many funerals flowed. Actually, Motoko had heard frequent talk of a funeral here or there, and had actually caught sight of the scenes of people coming out of funerals. This year is strange, so everyone was saying. Each time Motoko only responded with "It is." It was true that there were many casualties. --At least, it was true that there was a lot of talk of death.

  (But...)

  Motoko suddenly felt oncoming goosebumps. It had just been a matter of talk before but it became a truth in her very presence. This was death. It was what was continuing, since this summer.

  Motoko turned to see the scene behind her. Her uneasily nodding two children.

  (Outsiders have come...)

  Motoko shook her head. This and Iwao's death had no connection. It wasn't as if Iwao had died in an accident.

  (Outsiders... in the village...)

  Unrelated. So, there shouldn't have been anyone to come and snatch Motoko's children away.

  ---As long as they don't go near the national highway it'll be all right.

  Motoko firmly convinced herself.

  3

 
"Say, Tatsu-san, have you heard?" Ohtsuka Yaeko came running to the storefront of Takemura. "The Maeda's Iwao-san died, they're saying!"

  Heh? The one to raise his voice was Satou Oitarou.

  "That old pops did? I didn't think there was anyone as healthy as him, too!

  When Tatsu asked when, Yaeko answered that it was that morning.

  "In the morning when Tomiko-san woke up, he had gone cold next to her. What a shock it must have been, yes?"

  "I wonder what it could have been," Ohkawa Namie said making a sullen face. "Why are this many people dying, I wonder, this year. Our Matsumura-san's place's daughter died too, just lately. Tomio oversaw the funeral."

  "Well, my," Yaeko nodded. "Ours, too. The Ohtsuka Sawmill's son died too."

  It was Hirosawa Takeko who had said isn't it strange. "Somehow or another, isn't something strange? So many dying like this. It's been since this summer, hasn't it? I mean, back in Yamairi, it was five people."

  "Five people," Oitarou blinked in surprise. "Were there that many?"

  "There were!" Takeko said indignantly. "There were the three from Yamairi weren't there, then there was the Ohtsuka's son, and wasn't there the Muramatsu's daughter? That's five people, isn't it!"

  Yaeko waved her hand. "I'm telling you, Iwao-san died like I said. It's six people, I'm telling you," said Yaeko, tilting her head. "Eh? No, we just talked about this recently, didn't we?"

  Ah, Oitarou clapped his hands. "Nakano's son! Come to think of it he died."

  "Oh me," Ohkawa Namie counted on her fingers. "Then, seven people?"

  "Now hold on, there's still more. Look,the Shimizus' daughter is dead, isn't she? And then, Ohkawa. Namie-san, weren't they relatives of yours? Ohkawa's Shigeru-kun who died."

  "That's right," replied Namie with a bewildered face. "Then what? Nine people?"

  "That can't be right," Takeko said naming them off while counting on her fingers. "Seven, eight, nine... Well my, it really is nine people!"

  Tatsu swallowed a breath. Something chilled in the pit of her stomach.

  "We're forgetting the resident officer."

  Ah, the old people's voices rose out. Each of them took on a dumbfounded expression. Tatsu watched over that, reciting it in her mind all the more. That wasn't all, she'd seen how many cars coming and going for funerals. The Yasumori contractors had a funeral too, and the Maruyasu saw mill had a death too. She didn't know who the others were but she'd seen at least two or three more cars at least. ---That number was abnormal.

  "That's, I'm not Ikumi-san but, it's strange. Something's definitely happening." Oitarou wiped at his face like a cat.

  "Strange, isn't it..." Takeko tried taking a peek at the other's faces. "I mean, it wasn't like there were any accidents. Everyone died from a disease, right?"

  "It can't be that it's an epidemic, can it?" Oitarou said, Namie waving her hand.

  "That can't be. If it were an epidemic we'd be told this and that by the Health Department. You know, we'd be isolated and all. If I recall, you can't bury them if it's an epidemic. I'd heard that a long time ago from my father."

  "But if that's not it, how are this many people dying? And in three months---no, really, it's August and September, that's within two months."

  "But it's not an epidemic."

  The one to timidly, hesitantly raise her voice was Yaeko. "You don't think it could really be a curse or...?"

  "A curse, what's this?"

  "I don't quite get it but... Ah, look, there have been Koushin-samas broken here and there haven't there? It I recall, the Koubou-sama at the Shrine was broken too. A curse from that or..."

  "How foolish," Takeko laughed from her nose. "Aren't you being influenced by Ikumi-san too much? If not her, then it's the Ohtsuka Sawmill's influence."

  "No I'm not! That's, even I think it's foolish but, still, it's strange, isn't it?"

  "Keep it down now," Tatsu interposed. She could see Ikumi coming down the village road before the shop. Following Tatsu's gaze, the elderly all at once closed their mouths.

  "Well my, Ikumi-san, it's been a while," Yaeko called out with an unnaturally cheerful voice. Ikumi laughed, then moved to pass by the shop. "Oh my, Ikumi-san, not stopping in?"

  Ikumi's feet came to a stop. "Maybe in a bit. I'm busy you know, personally."

  "What's the mattert," Oitarou asked in a surprised seeming voice. "Didn't you hear? Maeda's Iwao-san died, they say."

  Yes, Ikumi laughed. She gave an ostentatious sigh. "I knew this was coming but it's still piteous. Then, I wonder if I shouldn't stop in on them a bit, perhaps? What a hassle it is, I really am just so busy."

  Tatsu's brows furrowed. "You, you'd go to a house having a funeral and talk about curses?"

  "Dear me. But I really must tell them. After all. If it keeps continuing it will be a problem, won't it? When one dies, they say they pull the family with them after all."

  "What a diligent worker you are," Tatsu said, tone laced with sarcasm, but Ikumi gave a good humored laugh.

  "They're so thankful to me. Well, of course there are people who just don't understand, but this world isn't all those who don't see the truth. Lately, people have been coming to me for exorcisms."

  Well, my, Takeko said eyes wide.

  "How is the direction of their house, things like that, they're consulting me. This too is a way of helping others, so of course I feel good giving them a consultation, but."

  Tatsu gave a curt nod. That's it, she thought. That was why Ikumi was in such high spirits.

  "We're not strangers, now, if something happens, all of you do say something to me! Especially Yaeko-san and Namie-san, yes? You have dead relatives don't you? Do be careful now!"

  4

  When Tamo Sadaihci poked his head into the office, Seishin was just taking a break after the end of one memorial service. The only one in the office was Seishin. Mitsuo was running about on various errands while Tsurumi and the others were hurrying about for memorial services. The services for the deaths since summer had started working the temple staff to the brink of their own deaths.

  "Junior Monk, have you heard?"

  Heard what, Seishin asked Sadaichi as Sadaichi made a greatly troubled expression. "It's about Masaji-san of Naka-Sotoba, but."

  Seishin's back tensed. It was the Naka-Sotoba's manager, old man Koike. "Something happened to Masaji-san----?"

  "Well, that's just it. It's not what happened to Masaji-san but in his son's family, they've left."

  Seishin started as if poked in a blind spot. "They've left?"

  "Right. Last night you see, there was a Shrine Parish meet and greet. Were you aware that Naka-Sotoba's San'Yasu had moved?"

  "Yes, I had heard."

  "The San'Yasu's Seiichirou-san was Naka-Sotoba's Village Administration's manager, and since that person suddenly moved on us, we can't go without replacing him. Soon enough we'll have to be thinking about November's Kagura. And so, for the time being we were going to try to consult with the Koike's Masaharu-san. ---Well, even if we called it a meeting, since it was that kind of talk, it wasn't much different from idle chat, though. As usual everyone drank into the night, grumbling over our cups but, then from there when Masaji-san went home, the people from his house weren't there, is the story."

  That can't be, Seishin blinked.

  "Masaji-san was shocked, then a call came. He was worried about what on earth was going on, but then this morning came---just a little while ago. One of the neighbors informed hi that while Masaji-san was out, the usual Takasago Movers were there, they came by!"

  "They had moved? Leaving behind Masaji-san? Without consulting with him about it?"

  That's exactly rightt, Sadaichi said perplexed. "Junior Monk, you haven't heard anything? From the Ozaki's Junior Doctor."

  Seishin saw Sadaichi's imploring face, relying on him. "There's a rumor about a spreading disease, for the record."

  "A spreading---disease."

  "Since summer, right, haven't there been a lot of them,
deaths. There's some kind of bad disease spreading around, isn't there, everyone is saying, but it's said half in jest. All the same, just two days before yesterday, Takemura's Michiko-kun died, didn't he? Wasn't he strange, wasn't it really an epidemic, they said."