Eighteen Years Ago

The night was bright in District G-9. Spirits were restless, you could hear it in the howling wind. It struck uneasiness in anyone who heard it, keeping people shut in their homes. However, upon the news of Jun Hieralta's death, a lone soul would venture out into the night.

"Are you sure you'll be alright here?"

Ken Rumira stood by his wife's bedside. She smiled at him, her round eyes glimmering with warmth. Ken held her hand in his and rubbed her knuckles with his thumb. Another hand rested on her pregnant belly, the reason he would be forced to leave her on her own. He stared into her eyes regretfully.

"I'll be fine, darling. You should go, it must be such a hard time for the Hieraltas."

"Indeed," he murmured. "Surely no one could have expected this."

He laid a kiss on her forehead and squeezed her hand. Ken trusted Meira's words. Her strength would keep both her and their baby safe. He needed to pay his respects. To see Jun one last time.

"I won't be long. Stay safe inside."

It would only be a matter of hours. The spirits wouldn't be so unkind to lay more than one tragedy a night. As long as he fulfilled his duty to the spirits. To Jun. That was what he told himself as he left.

The Hieraltas lived only a few streets ahead. He remembered his younger days of sneaking off to Jun's house to play computer games and discuss what trading cards to buy at the corner store. Those were now a lifetime ago. This time, Jun wouldn't be there to greet him with his toothy grin, serving saccharine tea and ginger cookies.

All too soon, a star disappeared from the sky.

Ken wasn't a stranger to death. As a doctor, he needed to keep going no matter what he saw, no matter what happened. He believed that death was an inevitable fate, the expected end of a finite being. The only thing that was killing him inside was that nobody knew why.

How could Jun die so suddenly? Jun never fell ill, never weakened from day to day. The last time he heard from him, he was as healthy and vibrant with the coming birth of his daughter. How could have anyone known? What happened to him?

He arrived with his thoughts unanswered. Jun's mother stood by the gate, her face aged with years and grief. She managed a smile at seeing her son's childhood friend. Before he could say anything, she pulled him into a hug. He was almost at a loss for words, yet he spoke before either of them could fall apart.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs Hieralta. I promise it will be alright," he assured in a steady tone, hugging her back. She let go of him and thanked him quietly. Ken was conscious of his every clenching heartbeat. The lights were dim, the wind cried as it blew. They made their way into the house together.

The first thing he saw was the gentle look of the portrait placed atop the shrine. Candles illuminated his still face. Mrs Hieralta bustled past him to the kitchen. There were a few more people in the room, but he didn't speak to any of them before sitting in front of the shrine.

He bowed his head somberly. With steady hands, he lit the incense and placed his offering for the death spirits, a lone white lily. He held his offering to Jun close to his chest. It was a handheld game that Jun had given him many years ago to signal their friendship. He kept it in good shape, not always remembering its presence, but always aware of the happiness it brought him.

"Thank you for everything, my friend," he murmured. "I hope you'll be safe in the other world and always remember our friendship."

Ken gave his offering with another bow. He looked back up to see Jun's face smiling at him. He was at peace. He rose to let the others pay their respects. His heart was no longer racing. Perhaps the spirits would quiet down as the night wore on.

His eyes roamed around the house, trying to imagine everything without Jun. The green wallpaper looked like wilting leaves. The floor felt cold and rough. The smell of tea was somber. The pictures of the family seemed so far behind.

He saw a woman sitting in the far corner of the room, nearly enveloped in darkness. The vacant look in her eyes made her almost unrecognizable. His eyes trailed down and saw a baby lying in front of her. He realised that it was Jun's wife, Akira. He made his way to her and sat in front of her.

Ken bowed his head and spoke.

"I'm very sorry, Akira. Our family will help yours in any way we can-"

"It's all her fault," Akira burst out.

He looked at her. In place of emptiness, there was now fury. She pointed to her baby, sleeping soundly. He was confused at this sudden implication. The baby was oblivious to the sadness around it. Young innocence tainted by words that he could not understand.

"What... do you mean?"

Akira hugged her knees to her chest. He kept his gaze on her. She gritted her teeth. Her eyes blinked away tears. With quick hands, she pushed the cap on her baby off. Her hands then recoiled away, seemingly afraid to touch her.

He saw what the cap concealed. The baby had snow-white hair. He rarely saw babies with spirit marks, and even less so saw mothers so disgusted by them. Sympathy welled inside him. The innocent being did not deserve such vitriol. It had no control over the mark. He took the baby in his arms. It did not stir.

"Don't touch her," spat Akira. "That child is cursed. I carried her for months - only for her to be cursed. She killed my husband."

He was disgusted by Akira's heartless words. Ken caressed the baby's forehead. He watched her little chest rise and fall. He couldn't imagine how her own mother could see her that way.

"She didn't do anything," Ken muttered. "She's your baby, Akira. Jun would never think that of his own child."

Akira stood up. He looked up at her. She shot him a frustrated look. He did not give up his gaze. He kept his eye on her as she walked away to the back of the house. Mrs Hieralta saw the debacle. She tried to stop Akira but to no avail. She shook her head and came to Ken's side.

"I'm sorry about her," Mrs Hieralta whispered. She touched her grandchild's cheek with the back of her hand. "I don't know why she holds such old beliefs. Yuryna's birth was hard for her, and Jun.... that must have made it harder."

"Yuryna?"

He looked back at the baby. Ken's eyes could have made out a ghost of a smile on the baby's face at being held so gently. He rocked her back and forth in his arms. She was beautiful.

"Yes," Mrs Hieralta managed to smile. "It's a pretty name, isn't it?"

He nodded. His head bowed down and kissed Yuryna's red forehead. Her skin was cold, but her breath could be felt. This baby would live.

"Yuryna," he whispered. In his heart, he prayed to the spirits, hoping that they would protect this child. "I'll take care of you, Yuryna. Our daughter will love you too. You will always be safe with us."

I promise you that, Jun.