“Tetsuko, you have only an hour until your next ansatsusha request,” Auntie’s voice trembled slightly. “The child will clean this up whilst you fix your hair. Chop, chop!”

Raiku left the room and a silence hung thick in the air a moment as Tetsuko stared at Kiri in shock. Stammering, she whispered, “H-h-how?”

The girl lowered her head and dragged her feet over the hardwood flooring, saying nothing. The older girl hitched her kimono up and shuffled over to Kiri, placing a hand on Kiri’s face and wiping away hot tears. Kiri fell into the folds of Tetsu’s fabric, sobbing, and Testsu barely worried the stains on the age old gown. Instead she _shh_’d in Kiri’s ear, rubbing her neck till the crying stopped.

“Come on, child,” she whispered. “You can help me fix my hair – would you like that?” Kiri nodded. “Good,” she smiled.

But fate could not be forgotten forever. There is only delay, and then the haints will find them again, and take what they deem theirs – a story Kiri knew only too well.