[Phantom Pain of Rousoku Himawari] Blood Moon

Shinju, Taeko, Izanami, and Rousoku stepped out from the bookstore together, the stars and crescent moon illuminating the night sky above their heads. Seven years of turmoil and emotional weight had finally been lifted. Now it was time to let Rousoku rest.

Taeko took out her phone and called Yoko as she descended the steps of the bookstore with everyone.

"Hello?" Yoko answered on the other end.

"Hey, Yoko. Firstly, I apologize for keeping Osamu and Izanami out for so long." Taeko began. "We're almost done here. I just need a favor from you, if you don't mind."

"Sure! What is it?"

"Remember those electric lanterns you left for us when we healed Kagutsuchi? Would you mind leaving those at the bowling alley again? We're going to need them to see."

"Sure thing, I can do that for you. Anything else?"

"No, that'll be it." Taeko said, glancing at the white backpack slung over Shinju's shoulder. "We've got everything else we need."

"Okay. Is everyone okay? How's Osamu?"

"Well, physically, everyone's fine. We'll see how everything turns out tonight."

"Okay. Oh, Taeko, did you get my message? It was actually from my mom. She said you'd know what it meant."

Taeko hesitated to answer, knowing that Manami had been taken into custody by the exorcists. She could tell by the lack of panic in Yoko's voice that she didn't even know Manami was arrested. "Yeah, I got it. Thank you. I'll have Osamu and Izanami returned home as soon as the ritual's done."

"Okay. Good luck, Taeko."

"Thank you for everything. Bye."

Rousoku took one last look back at the city below and the lights dazzling in the distance. She knew it would be the last time she would get to see Kyoto, Osamu, and the entire earth. The thought of being somewhere else, to some unimaginable, far-off place terrified her. Moving on to the hereafter proved far more frightening than the act of dying. Osamu noticed the sound of her teeth chattering and felt the terrified tremors rocking her hands. He wrapped his hand around hers even tighter to comfort her.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, Rousoku." Osamu said. "Part of you will always be right here with me."

Rousoku flashed a melancholic smile. "Thank you...I guess...it's time for me to go now..."

(I had forgotten how soft Rousoku's hands felt...)

Her last walk through Kyoto, and on this earth, was spent holding hands with the man she devoted her heart and life to. Everyone was silent, as if they were already mourning her passing. The atmosphere was so heavy it threatened to crush everyone against the ground like insects. They knew that, unlike the ritual for Kagutsuchi, this one wouldn't have a happy ending. This, after all, was nothing but a tragic affair.

The love Osamu and Rousoku shared was born from tragedy, resulted in tragedy, and now, it would end in tragedy. They were just two young souls hiding away from the hell that had been their lives. They tucked themselves away, in isolation and darkness.

It was that darkness that brought them together, and when the time came to return to full light of life, only Osamu was ready to go back. It was even more saddening that on that night, the night they understood each other the most, they had to part ways forever.

After a while, they made their way to the abandoned bowling alley. They carefully walked through the broken glass doors and stepped inside, following the icy, blue glow of the electric lanterns reflecting off of the walls.

The light led them to the usual spot, the multi-lane alley adorned with a stretching row of colored windows, each glass panel a different, vibrant color. The moonlight pierced through the windows, its light filtered into a rainbow and splashed onto the bowling alley floor.

The time had come.

"Ah, good! I knew she'd come through for us!" Shinju said, picking up one of the electric lanterns.

"Izanami, can you help us set up?" Taeko asked.

"Of course." Izanami answered.

Izanami helped prepare the materials, laying a white sheet on the ground. Taeko pulled out a large calligraphy brush and black paint, painting the kanji for 'Rest' and 'Heaven' the sheet. Watching them get to work made Osamu clench Rousoku's hand more tightly than ever.

"I'm sorry you didn't have a good life. But...I at least want you to have a good passing." Osamu said.

Rousoku shook her head. "I had the best life, because you were in it."

"Is there anything I can do for you, Rousoku? Anything at all?" Osamu asked.

Rousoku closed her eyes and smiled. "Just a few things."

"What is it?”

"Live your best life. Live a long life. Live to see it all. Be a good man, and an even better father. And...remember that you made the right choice. Your life is far more precious than you think. I won't be around to see what happens next. I'm sure there's still more pain and tragedy awaiting you. But even if you don't see me there, just remember that your life is precious to me, too."

With tears in his eyes and his throat on fire from holding them back, Osamu nodded. "I'll do my best. Wherever you go, just keep watching over me, okay?"

"I will, Osamu. I always will."

"Rousoku, we're ready when you are." Taeko said.

"Already?" Rousoku gasped.

Osamu and Rousoku stood up together, taking each, brave step closer to the sheet as one. Shinju took off Rousoku's shoes for her, waving her hands towards the sheet. Rousoku stepped onto it, gazing into Osamu's eyes as the two slowly let go of each others hands. Osamu backed away, and kept his eyes on her.

Izanami lit incense, clapped her hands, and prayed for the safe passage of Rousoku's soul, as well her peace in the afterlife. Shinju took the ashes of the incense, dipping her fingers in them and marking Rousoku's forehead and heart with it.

"May your journey through death be peaceful, and may you find rest in the land without suffering." Shinju prayed. "Rousoku, think of your happiest memory. Or maybe a place you've always wanted to go to. Think of it in as much detail as possible, as if you're really there."

"Is that part of the ritual, too?" Rousoku asked.

"No." Shinju answered. "It's just...it'll help make the dread go away."

Rousoku closed her eyes, thinking back to the moment on the beach, when she sank beneath the ocean with Osamu, lost in a kiss that seemed to last forever. That was her happy place. She felt the cold ocean swallow her whole, the waves swish in and around her ears, and Osamu's arms wrapped around her, keeping her safe.

Shinju clasped her hands and weaved the Rin, Sha, Jin, and Kai hand symbols, initiating the ritual. Rousoku's feet were engulfed by cold, smokeless fire that slowly crawled up to her knees, hips, and chest. In just a few minutes, the flames enwreathed her entire body. She didn't burn, nor did the flames hurt her.

Taeko watched the ritual progress without a hitch. She knew they'd be done in under an hour, if all went well.

(She hasn't changed. Rousoku always wanted what was best for me. Even now, after everything we've been through together, that's still what she wants. Why do people like her always have to go through such terrible tragedy? Why is it that the best people only get to stay for the shortest amount of time?)

"That's odd..." Izanami mumbled. "Wasn't there supposed to be a full moon tonight?"

Taeko overheard Izanami, initially thinking nothing of it. Then, it suddenly hit her. When they stepped outside the bookstore earlier, there was a crescent moon hanging in the sky. She suddenly ran out of the alley and stepped outside to check the moon for herself. In that moment, the flames wrapped around Rousoku hissed and raged, growing into a blaze far out of Shinju's control.

"Shinju! What happened?" Izanami asked.

"I don't know!" Shinju shouted, covering her eyes from the blinding fire.

Taeko looked upon the moon, her eyes widened in horror. The earth's shadow slowly slipped away, revealing a dark blood moon.

"A lunar eclipse?!" Taeko recoiled, running back inside. "Shinju! Stop the ritual! Now!"

"Shinju, the flames!" Izanami shouted.

"I don't have any water! It might make the flames worse if I use the air gun!" Shinju said.

"Check the side pocket! I put extinguishing coins in there!"
Osamu immediately grabbed the backpack and found the coins. He hurriedly tossed them to Shinju, who frantically ripped open the side pocket and found them. Shinju flipped the coin into the flames, resulting in a large burst of steam that cloaked the inside the bowling alley. Everyone was blown back and knocked onto the ground Dozens of sunflowers gently fell onto the ember-riddled ground.

Osamu stood up coughing, hardly able to see a thing through the steam. "Is everyone okay?!"

"I'm good!" Taeko answered. "Izanami? Shinju?"

"I'm all right!" Izanami wheezed.

Osamu helped Izanami up as Taeko and Shinju looked around. They waved their hands around, fanning the steam to clear the their vision. To their horror, they noticed Rousoku was nowhere to be found.

"She's gone?"

"I'm confused...did it work? If the flames went wild like that, something must've gone wrong." Osamu said.

"Shit! Let's go searching for her, Taeko!" Shinju said.

"Wait! What happened?" Osamu asked. "What happened to Rousoku?"

"I'm sorry, Osamu. We failed." Taeko lamented. "There's a blood moon outside. I think that's what messed up the ritual."

"What?! But there's still a few days before the lunar eclipse!" Osamu cried.

"Did the Shoku Twins make a mistake?" Shinju asked.

"They never make mistakes." Taeko growled. "That eclipse wasn't supposed to happen tonight."

(The Shoku Twins...did they do this on purpose?!)

"Damn it! We need to find her!" Taeko screamed. "Shinju, let's go!"

"Osamu, get Izanami to safety and stay indoors!" Shinju urged.

Osamu was stunned silent as Shinju and Taeko ran off to find Rousoku.

"Osamu, dear, she's right. We should go home and stay inside until they figure out what happened. It could be dangerous." Izanami pleaded.

Osamu's eyes drifted towards the burned sunflowers scattered across the bowling alley, tears falling from his bloodshot eyes.

(Rousoku...did I fail you a second time?)