Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi; Marrying into an Ayakashi Inn

Table of context:

Chapter 1- Do not feed the Ayakashi

Chapter 2- The Master Ogre God

Chapter 3- The Young Master Nine-Tails Fox

Chapter 4- The Old Tengu

Chapter 5- The Hidden Realms Fairy

Chapter 6- The Young Snow Woman

Chapter 7- A Gift from the Master

Chapter 8- Geisha of the Spider Webs and a Giant Spider

Chapter 9- Geisha of a Maiden Spider

Chapter 10- Do Not Forget the Promise with the Ayakashi

Prologue

5. My Grandfather who raised me, Shiro Tsubaki died. I was saddened, although, I wonder if it was only me because at that time everyone seemed to cry for joy and joy. I remember the funeral well, it was like a festival. In my

opinion, my Grandfather was a surprisingly lovely guy. Unfortunately, in Japan’s society which respects seriousness, he was referred to as a ‘Good for nothing,’ because he refused to stay in one place. Drifting again and again around the country without having a regular job. He was a free man who moved as he pleased. This seemed to instil a dizziness amongst the local housewives. Still, he refused to marry, remaining free of responsibilities, always stepping around with outstanding movements, escaping from such distractions, he was always keeping people in a frenzy. Those who attended the funeral back then, I wonder if it caused them a lot of trouble. Little by little as they talked over the bad things about my Grandfather, it heated up, ending with a feast. When I looked upon those who were somewhat pleased with his encounterable existence, I thought about my Grandfather’s sinfulness of the past. Still, I think that he was a great person in a sense. The number of people that attended his funeral just shows the influence he had. The rows and rows of those that were mourning him reminded me of a scene from a picture scroll.

6. From the open window the noise of the running train flooded through as it passed by, it was relieving. Springs Sunrise, it brings back memories of my Grandfather’s funeral which was held just a month ago. “No, I have to tidy up.” Ever since my Grandfather’s death, I’ve been cleaning his room which I have never been in before. There were turned over treasure boxes in the closet, sitting on the tatami mats, even though everything has fallen out I look at each of them. A sunburned letter,  mysterious bills with strange patterns written on them, an old movie ticket, then lots and lots of pictures. Among them was a black-and-white photograph which soon became disturbing. It was an old faded picture, though I raised it and tilted my head. “Tenjinya?” I think that is somewhere in front of an inn.

7. On the big accommodation sign of the inn,'Tenjinya,’ is written. Although it is impossible to know what the entire inn looks like from photos alone. But, it is surely a well-established inn. “Grandpa seems pretty young in this photo, I wonder if he was about my age?” My Grandfather is at the centre of the photo, I recognized him straight away. It seemed as if this photo was taken with the employees of the inn, a lot of people were gathered around my grandfather. Every employee at the inn is wearing a beautiful kimono with somewhat smiling faces. Looking to and from their grim smiles it almost seems as if their faces

are fake. Among them there is a black-haired young man lined up next to Grandfather, he seemed distressed. Wearing a hem long haori, he is very tall and holds a cool atmosphere. He seems a lovely guy. My Grandfathers petite physique and the shaggy atmosphere is the complete opposite in comparison. Although he looks young I can see he is very dignified. I had a sense of

uneasiness about this photo. I thought that perhaps this young man was not really a person at all, that he wasn’t human. Turning the photo over there are strange and suspicious strokes written on it. 'I’m going to stay at an inn in The Hidden Realm There are serious promises that I have not yet forgotten and have not yet fulfilled.’

8. “What’s this?” As soon as I finished reading I felt a chill run through my body accompanied by a cold sweat for some reason. The Hidden Realm? I wonder where that is. Somehow, I think it would have been better to have not looked at this picture. Such as the things left behind by my Grandfather only bring nasty memories. Perhaps, perhaps even though these,'people,’ may not even be

people it may have been a different situation when attempting to take the photo. Trying to calm down I breathe exaggeratedly. Then, I look at the picture again. Even looking at the young appearance of my grandfather, it feels nostalgic. Softly, I touch my grandfathers face on the picture. Even now, I do not have a feeling that he is truly gone. My grandfather surely died leaving an infamous legacy. I sincerely have loved and respected my grandfather. Because, for me Aoi Tsubaki, my grandfather Shiro Tsubaki was my one and only true family.

9. My mother had many problems, when I was young I lived in an orphanage. So I can never forget the day my grandfather came to pick me up. It was unforgettable. My grandfather had seemed to live a full proper life before he came to the orphanage to pick me up. Until then my grandfather, who lived all alone freely, took over the responsibility for his granddaughter. From that moment, I worked hard. Everyone said that he was a totally rounded person. The fun of living with my grandfather who had lost a lot of freedom by taking me in was that I learned how to cook. Cooking, it was my grandfather who taught me how. For me at this time cooking was a great joy because it held a special meaning more than anything else. My grandfather was also very good at

cooking, he taught me a lot of dishes, also teaching me how to cook from scratch. It was great. He would take me on trips if he were to have a long vacation, he’d let me have delicious food. He’d let me eat anything. Thanks to my grandfather I always had pleasant meals, I knew happiness from satiety. I knew the pleasures of cooking. Gradually, cooking for my grandfather became my purpose in life. So my top priority became making dishes that he would be happy to have.

10.“For my last meal, I’d like to have Aoi’s homemade cooking.” Everytime my grandfather drank alcohol he would say such things. But he died before it could ever happen. He was a man who would not even die if he was killed they said. Although now there is a lot of irony to that statement since he fell down the stairs and hit his head too hard. Then, he died. Grandfather’s last meal was a hospital meal.

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