D4 MM - Does it still hurt?

[Aji]

"This would be my second time," she said honestly, "But it lasts for several days."

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma breathed deeply.

"And did people try to kill themselves by drowning last year too?"

And sigh.

"Actually, why won't we sit somewhere and you tell us everything since the beginning?"

[Aji]

She nods and gets some water for them and sits down inside the shrine, "It was not last year, it was about ten years ago."

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma simply nodded, silently encouraging her to continue.

[Aji]

Aji said, “I was younger then when it started. I awoke and went to the other nuns and they didn’t seem to know what I was about and then strange things happened in the village and then came the people marching into the sea. I tried, I bloody tried but they heeded no warning and went to their deaths.”

“Yet the next morning, no one remembered and more so those that were gone were not even missed… they were just forgotten. This happened for four days or was it nights. Then a young boy threw himself from the rocks and the days stopped repeating.”

“After that I did some research and I was able to find some stories that match some of the things people claimed to two see. Ghostly armies… led by a Crab and Crane bushi, I believe them to be Hida Gusari and Doji Bujeihime,” she finished.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Konohamaru continues taking notes.

"Ghostly armies... that sounds like... I want to say Gaki-do, as Doji-san described it? Correct me if I'm wrong. But do you remember these armies... appearing, at all, in the events ten years ago?"

[Aji]

"I remember hearing stories from others," she said.

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

Hanatsuko followed. "These armies I've seen them... in the beach.. What about the ship?"

[Aji]

"Ship?" Aji asked.

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

"I saw a wreckage of a ship washed ashore on the night of festival day." She nodded. "That is when all started for me."

[Aji]

"That is a new one," she said.

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

"Is it? I vaguely could see the objects I know wood and limbs and small objects that came from the sea. What else could it be if not a ship?" She had assumed it was a ship. "I may have a theory but I need more proof."

[Aji]

"This seems to be the best time for theories, can I hear it?" she asked.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Ships... I know there is something in the water, as I saw claw marks on a ship yesterday-yesterday. I don't know if it's related, however."

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

"My theory goes as follows this Hitomi girl was sailing with her parents and perhaps to close to the sea of shadows. I am guessing an oni attacked the ship they where on and well... I think her parents tried to get her to safety tossing her overboard and the girl drowned." She looked at the gathered. "That is why she is all wet and decayed... and even oni like. Her body could have been corrupted by hate and revenge because of lack of understanding." Those were her two zeni.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Two zeni well spent, in his opinion.

"That would explain a lot of things, actually."

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma was quite surprise as how well the other two were taking the news. But hey, he himself was used to weird stuff happening, though not nearly that intense, so maybe they also had had strange experiences in their past?

He closed his eyes, gathered his thoughts, then tried to put some some order into this madness:

"As I am no specialist on the matter, I wouldn't hazard to comment on the involvement or not of the darkest realm. Maybe a Kuni could help?

Seemingly, I won't comment on what that endless ghostly battle could be at the moment. The spiritual world is not so simply understood, and these apparitions could mean a lot of things.

I have several questions of my own however.

I noticed you separated the ultimate death of the boy from people walking into the sea. Is it because, contrary to other, he was not forgotten and the body was found?

Correct me if I am wrong as I am not sure to have perfectly understood that part: You said that some people remembered seeing two ghostly armies fighting on that looping day even though they didn't remember the same day happening four times? And that such visions have been a regular thing for one century?"

[Aji]

"The ghostly armies have been seen outside of the loop as you call it. The boy was remembered, and the days stopped repeating," she offered.

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

"Perhaps it is something independent from the girl." She looked at Konohamaru "Toshigoku is mostly depicted as a endless war. Perhaps they can overlap with Gaki-do." She look at Yuma. "That was my next stop. Going to the castle to check the records and maybe speak with a Kuni."

[Doji Yuma]

"People continuing to wage war pointlessly even after death is very Toshigoku-like indeed... But that's a conjecture not a fact."

Back to Aji:

"You said you did research. Would it be possible to have a look at your notes? At your sources?"

[Aji]

"It isn't exactly collected together, but if you sit and wait I can gather what I have," she responded.

[Doji Yuma]

A nod:

"If you please."

[Aji]

She departed to go towards the living area for the nuns and monks.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Konohamaru turns to the other two with... he can't exactly smile, but a content look on his face.

"I thought our biggest worry would be a drunk Yoji going berserk or a Scorpion plot. The fortunes knew what they were doing when you two were invited, didn't they?"

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

"...never undestimate the spirits" Hanatsuko shook her head. "Should I take my leave Kakita sama?... I should head to the castle and get those records and perhaps compare notes at some point?" She tilted her head. "At your convenience to both of you."