Itako Tsukiyama Anna

"You will have a child soon, Umeboshi… what are you going to do?"

The words echoed deep within his soul, playing on an endless loop. They reminded him of both his greatest failures and his proudest moments. Those words carried happiness, sadness, and, above all, regret—a heavy weight he could never seem to shake.

His eyes fluttered open, and his hand instinctively reached out toward the sky. But what greeted him wasn't the vast expanse of the heavens—it was the jagged ceiling of a cave.

His fingers trembled slightly as he let his hand fall back to his side. In a low, broken voice, he murmured,

"I'm... sorry…"

As Umeboshi's whispered apology faded into the stillness, a voice echoed softly in the dark cave.

"It seems you've had a troubled dream…"

The words brought him back to his senses. Blinking, he realized he was lying on someone's lap—a strange girl's lap. She wore a white kimono, her pale skin glowing faintly in the dim light. A piece of black silk was tied over her eyes, obscuring them from view, while a vibrant red scarf adorned her head. Her hair, a cascade of pure gold, fell gracefully down her back, shimmering like strands of sunlight.

The girl's gentle hand moved across his face, wiping away something wet. It was only then that Umeboshi noticed: he had been crying.

"What are you doing on this mountain? This is no place for a human soul to wander," the girl said, her voice calm yet carrying a hint of warning. "If you think you can escape hell by climbing this mountain, you're mistaken. You won't survive here."

She giggled softly, her tone shifting to something more gentle.

"You truly are a foolish stranger… You're lucky I was here to save you from the Jubokko."

Umeboshi stared blankly at the cave ceiling, his hollow eyes betraying the weight of his thoughts.

I lost again… All I do is lose, over and over…

Slowly, he sat up, moving away from the girl's lap to stand next to her. Every muscle in his body screamed in pain, and he was wrapped in bandages from his head to his torso. The girl watched him closely, her expression unreadable, though there was a flicker of curiosity—or perhaps concern—in her covered eyes.

Umeboshi glanced at her briefly before lowering his gaze. In a low voice, he said,

"Thanks… for saving me back there. And thanks for patching me up."

Umeboshi glanced around the cave, his eyes falling on his wooden staff lying nearby. He walked over and picked it up, gripping it tightly as if drawing strength from its familiar weight. As he turned toward the cave's entrance, he heard a faint noise—rain, heavy and unrelenting.

Stepping outside, he was greeted by the sight of a raging storm. The rain came down in torrents, and the wind howled like a chorus of unseen spirits. The forest beyond was cloaked in an eerie darkness, illuminated only by the occasional flash of lightning.

Before stepping into the downpour, Umeboshi muttered in a low voice, "Thanks again…"

But before he could cross the threshold, the girl's voice rang out sharply behind him.

"You're not seriously thinking about going out there in your condition, are you?" she said, her tone filled with both alarm and frustration. "With injuries like yours, heading into that storm is suicide! The dangerous spirits roaming this forest will tear you apart before the storm even gets the chance! You have to stay here!"

Her words echoed in the cave, hanging heavily in the air as Umeboshi hesitated.

"I have somewhere I need to go…" Umeboshi said, his voice low and unwavering, though his expression remained hollow.

The girl in the kimono let out an exasperated sigh, her frustration breaking through her otherwise calm demeanor.

"What place is so important that you'd risk destroying your soul!?" she demanded, her tone sharp with concern.

Umeboshi lingered in silence, staring into the rain as if searching for an answer hidden within the storm. Finally, he spoke, his voice quiet but resolute.

"I need to collect six Mon from spirits by passing their trials," he said. "I have no clue what I'm doing, but… my instincts are telling me to head to the mountain peak. That's where I need to go."

He clenched his staff tightly, his gaze still fixed on the downpour outside.

"If I don't have the six coins, I can't cross the river. I can't find the answers I need... If I don't get the six coins, I'll never know."

The girl, her pale skin framed by golden hair, tilted her head slightly, her curiosity evident even as her black silk blindfold concealed her eyes.

"Wait… You're not going to hell?" she asked, her voice carrying a mix of surprise and confusion. "But isn't that supposed to be the only destination left on the river? And… there aren't any Michibibito left to guide anyone across. What are you even talking about?"

Umeboshi didn't respond. He stepped into the rain, the freezing cold soaking him instantly. The girl gasped and rushed forward, blocking his path. The rain poured down on her, soaking her red scarf, which clung to her head. She stood before him, her voice sharp with frustration.

"I get it! I get it! You have to collect the six Mon, but at least wait until the storm is over! No—at least wait until you're healed!"

Her tone softened as she pressed her hands against his chest to stop him from going any further.

"I saved your life—or… your afterlife? Whatever!" she exclaimed, exasperated. "The least you can do is listen to what I have to say."

She lowered her voice, a note of sincerity creeping in.

"You can't achieve anything if your soul gets destroyed in this mountain."

Umeboshi stared at her for a long moment, her words hanging heavy in the air. Finally, he sighed and relented.

"All right," he muttered. "I'll listen to you."

He turned back toward the cave and walked inside, his wooden staff clutched tightly in his hand. Once inside, he leaned against the wall and slid down to sit, his exhaustion evident.

The girl let out a relieved sigh and followed him back inside, sitting against the opposite wall to face him. Though her clothes were soaked from the rain, she didn't seem to mind. Instead, she watched him closely, her curiosity undimmed.

"Why are you staring at me so much?" Umeboshi asked, his voice strained from the pain of his injuries.

The young girl flinched slightly and blushed, quickly looking away as she scratched the back of her head.

"Sorry… I didn't mean to," she said, her tone a mix of embarrassment and sincerity. "It's just… it's the first time I've seen a human on this mountain, so I'm curious."

Umeboshi lowered his gaze to the cave floor, his expression unreadable.

"You live on this mountain alone?" he asked quietly.

The girl hesitated, tilting her head as if searching for the right words.

"Yes…" she said nervously.

For a fleeting moment, Umeboshi thought he heard a hint of sadness hidden in her voice.

"I've lived here alone my entire life, in fact… Well, I had my family with me once," she continued, her voice softening. "But not anymore."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with emotion. She lingered on the thought for a moment before speaking again.

"This mountain is basically my home now," she said, her tone steadier but still carrying an undertone of melancholy. "Even though it's filled with spirits that'll devour your flesh, your soul—or both at the same time—you're the only human I've ever seen here. Well, except for my family… back then."

After that, they both sat in silence for several minutes. The only sounds were the rhythmic patter of rain outside and the faint crackle of a small flame flickering in the cave. Yet, it was obvious the girl craved more conversation. She kept glancing at Umeboshi, as if waiting for him to speak.

Umeboshi sighed, his gaze fixed on the cave floor.

She saved my hide back there… the least I can do is ask for her name, he thought to himself.

Lifting his head, he broke the silence, speaking in his usual tone:

"My name is Umeboshi Tatsunosuke… but you can also call me Bokujō no Tatsu, if you want. What's your name?"

The girl looked at him, her golden hair shimmering faintly in the dim light. There was a flicker of surprise in her expression before her lips curled into a gentle smile.

"Oh!... My name is… My name is Tsukiyama Anna. Nice to meet you."

She lingered for a moment after introducing herself, her gentle smile fading into something more solemn. Her voice, though steady, carried a weight of sorrow as she continued:

"I am the last itako of the Tsukiyama clan… the last descendant of a once-proud family of spiritual mediums. Itako Tsukiyama Anna…"

Her words hung in the air, heavy with the burden of her lineage. She cast her gaze downward, her delicate fingers brushing the edge of her red scarf as if clinging to a piece of her past.

chapter sixty-seven end

{after chapter poem}

To be blind is both a blessing and a curse.

I cannot see the ugly truths of the world,

and for that, I am grateful.

I cannot see you when my arms embrace you,

and for that, I am sorrowful.

I was a lonely, blind soul,

wandering the silent peak of Mount Osore—

the mountain of the dead,

where all I once cherished had long vanished

to a place beyond my reach.

But you, mighty dragon of the ranch,

came to me,

opened my lonely soul,

and for that, I am grateful.

One day, I hope we leave this mountain together,

so that my soul may open once more—

perhaps to a world of beauty,

perhaps to souls as radiant as you.