It's been quite some time. Hello, everyone. :) Did you think I forgot? No, no, no. I've just been reaaaally busy. Job and moving into my own apartment and all. Also other stories got some work done to them. But I do plan on continuing this story. As well as go through and edit the bugs in it. ;; Either way, I hope you enjoy, whoever is still here! :)

Oh, someone asked for profiles of the characters of FnM: if you're still interested, I can do them, but you know. XD

ENJOOOOOY.

Foxglove no Murasaki

By, Breanna aka PinkLemonade

Chapter 20:

Yuki-onna

1898

From up above, petals of fake snow descended to the brightly lit stage below, covering it in a thick blanket of fluffy white. The lights made the petals shimmer as they fell, the backdrop of sakura trees coated in ice glowing a pale white and silver. In the darkness beyond the stage, which was its own little world, an audience of fifty or so sat quietly in their seats, watching in awe, all their eyes glued to the performance played out so beautifully before them. Not a whisper, not a sound, just breathing.

On the stage were two actors, each playing the leads of this story. One a man in a dark brown kimono, his hair tied into a top knot, eyes and cheeks sticky with tears. Adjacent of him, standing like royalty, was a beautiful woman in an elegant pallor white kimono, her face akin to that of a geisha or china doll, lips pursed a dainty pale blue, eyes shadowed with the same hue, glistening brow peering between long, thick black lashes. Her long, ebony black hair was let loose, a few locks tied back into hoops to the top of her head by silk beads in the shape of snowflakes.

"I'm not leaving," the man insisted, sniffing.

The beautiful woman peered at him with a face as cold as ice. "Even if it means your death?" she inquired in a feather soft voice that was deep enough to resound throughout the whole theatre.

The man nodded. "Even if I die," he answered, firmly, "I would willingly give my life to you."

The woman sized him up. "None have lived long in my embrace," she informed. "They wither away like flowers in winter, their bodies turning blue and frozen."

"It is a risk I'm willing to take," the brunet man breathed.

"Even when you kissed me before," the woman whispered, "you were nearly chilled to the bone." She raised the corner of her long white sleeve to her face. "No man wishes to die so slowly, so painfully."

"If I were to die in your arms," the man exclaimed, "I would be grateful! I would leave this world with a smile!" As if to demonstrate, he smiled. "I would ask the gods to be kind, to show mercy on the man who loved what he could not have, so my soul may return to your side."

The woman narrowed her eyes, nearly invisible brows knitting. She tried to hide the touched look on her pale face. "You are a fool," she replied.

A few women in the audience released a collective sniff, dabbing their eyes and noses with handkerchiefs.

The man stood and moved towards the woman, who took a mere step back. "Then let me die in your embrace!" he exclaimed. "So I can return to this Earth to love you without worry!"

"You have a wife, a child," the woman insisted, looking away, "why would you throw that good life away to a Yuki-onna? A spirit, no less?"

The man just kept grinning and reached to her. "All I want in the world," he whispered, "lies in you."

For a moment, all the Yuki-onna could do was stare. Without realizing it, her icy heart, one she thought did not exist, forced her hands slowly to his. Even though her frozen touch made his fingers prickly and cold, he wrapped his fingers around hers tightly. She searched his green eyes, finding the truth and sincerity of his desires and longings. When she found them, she too smiled. How long had it been since she smiled, she could not--

"Ugh," the woman grunted, dropping her hands. She pressed them to her chest.

The man blinked. "Are you okay?" he asked.

The woman twisted her face in pain. "M-My chest hurts," she breathed, one hand moving to touch her heart. She coughed a little. "I'm getting dizzy and my heart... agh!" The woman fell to her knees, wheezing as she grasped her chest tightly.

The man went to his hands and knees, taking her by the shoulders. In a voice all most inaudible to the audience, he inquired lowly, "Fumiko-san, what's wrong?"

"I can't... I can't breath," the woman coughed loudly, having to balance herself on hands and knees. She continued coughing hoarsely.

The man stood and looked away, into the wing of the stage at the very end of the hashigakari. The director and two other actors looked just as confused as him. He shrugged, mouthing something, but they just shrugged and shook their heads.

"Aahh!" the woman yelped, falling forward. She threw out a hand and clutched the bottom of the man's kimono, tugging. "C-Call a doctor! I need a doctor!" She began hiccupping loudly. "I can't--I can't breath!"

It was then the startled audience realized: this was not part of the act. Something was going on with the actress. A few people stood, concerned as to what to do, leave or help, while most everyone whispered and talked amongst themselves, wondering what was going on while remaining all most relatively calm.

The director flew out on the stage. "Go get Matsuka," he ordered his actor, kneeling beside the heaving woman. The actor nodded and rushed down the hashigakari and off stage; this time, more people in the audience stood, some shouting to ask if the actress was okay.

"I can't..." the beautiful woman wheezed, hand to her throat. Her eyes widened. "I can't... I can't brea-!" But all she could get out were heavy, desperate gasps for air.

"Are you sick!?" the director demanded, feeling her forehead. She was blazing hot.

"I can't!" the woman cried, hyperventilating. She yowled, causing people in the audience to jump, as she held her chest. "I can't breath! I can't breath!" she gasped and spit and coughed.

The director licked his lips and looked around. What was taking so long!? "Fumiko-san," he said, calmly, "try and get up, we'll take you--"

"I can't breath!" the woman shrieked, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. Just then, eyes wide, she took a giant breath that caused her chest to swell and spine to straighten. She stared at the director with her big eyes, as if terrified, before she let him go and fell over. The director jumped but quickly caught her, allowing the woman to lay against his chest, her arms and head limp.

"What's going on!?" one patron demanded. He was echoed with similar questions.

The actor and doctor came rushing on stage a minute later, the doctor carrying a small leather case of medicines and instruments. He quickly sat the actress up, her eyes still wide in terror; she flopped back against the director again. The doctor took her by the wrist and checked her pulse. A second later, he let her hand drop back down to her side.

With shock in both his eyes and voice, he mumbled, "She's dead."

It had been a rather rough night that night, with snow relentlessly beating down on the roof until early that morning. And those damn dogs next door to the Kurosawa temple kept howling.

Nonetheless, this did not stop people from going about their business. Children on their winter break made use of the thick layers of snow, playing various sort of games or making things out of the ice like snowmen and snow angels. There seemed to be a snowball fight on every street corner. Men and women were either working or shoveling snow out of their carports or from the front of their shops. Mother Nature couldn't stop human progression, it seemed.

"I'm going to turn into a popsiclllllle."

Tsuyoshi just snorted, listening to the snow beneath his boots crunch and grind. He was dressed warmly for the occasion, jacket, gloves, sweat pants and even a hoodie he pulled over his ears. Beside him was Satoshi, whining and hugging himself, constantly patting down his body for warmth, despite being decked out in a sweater, two coats, a thick pair of pants, equally thick socks and faux fur lined boots with gloves, hat and ear muffs. Leading the two through the more quiet part of town was Kazuhiko, who amazingly continued to wear a kimono even through such cold temperatures--he seemed content, so no one suggested otherwise.

"The sun's out," Satoshi muttered, the tip of his nose red, "but there's no warmth. And none of the snow is melting. Good job it's doing, feh."

"Stop complaining," Tsuyoshi scowled.

Kazuhiko laughed and looked back at the two. "Don't worry, Satoshi-kun," he assured, "we're all most there."

For the most part, the next three minutes were quiet. Well, Tsuyoshi was. Satoshi kept forcefully stomping his feet in the snow, as if in spite and to hear the angry crunches it made. Kazuhiko was humming something to himself, looking up and around. Tsuyoshi couldn't help but feel a little out of place.

Suddenly, Kazuhiko stopped, forcing the others to as well. "We're here," he chimed, pointing forward. Tsuyoshi and Satoshi looked up. Standing about ten yards away was a relatively large old building of stone and wood, sitting quietly nested in the snow, surrounded by a few skeleton trees. Tsuyoshi could tell it was old, however, by the holes in the roof and the fact the windows he could see were broken out. Either by the elements or some kids goofing around with rocks.

"What is this place?" Tsuyoshi inquired.

"It's..." Satoshi murmured, but trailed off. Tsuyoshi noticed he was staring at the building with deep intrigue.

"It's somewhat of a national monument in Nakagyo--only not really. The Miwa Theatre," Kazuhiko answered with a chuckle. He took a photo out from inside his kimono and handed it back to Satoshi. Satoshi gave it a quick glance before carelessly handing it to Tsuyoshi. It was dyed sepia red, taken in spring time. Tsuyoshi noticed it had been taken around the time when it was still in good shape.

Tsuyoshi handed the photo back to his cousin. "Why have you brought us here?" he asked.

Kazuhiko took it and stuffed it back away. "Oh, very important reasons," he assured, nodding firmly. He looked back at to the dilapidated establishment and explained, "The Miwa Theatre, named after and built by actor and director Nakano Miwa, was built in 1876, officially opening to the public in 1877. It was a bit of a hit amongst the community. It had a Noh style to the interior design, but put on Kabuki plays more often; kinda loose rules. Once or every other month Miwa and his troupe would perform various plays. They were given praising reviews, and tons of people attended the showings. However, it would be their one play, Yuki-onna, that would immortalize this place forever."

Kazuhiko continued: "In 1898, Miwa wrote and directed a play he simply titled Yuki-onna. It was about a man, Kensuke, who is rescued by a Yuki-onna spirit after nearly freezing to death in the snow on his way home from a long journey. Kensuke turns out to be a bit of a hot shot in his village, rich and happy, but decides to throw it all away for the Yuki-onna, who is simply called 'Yuki' throughout the play. The entire story revolves around him trying to win her affection while living his big fancy life at the same time. Yuki-san, however, shuns him away, only out of fear of losing him or hurting herself, since the touch of a Yuki-onna is fatal to humans."

The bespectacled boy sighed sadly. "The play has a very tragic ending. Finally, Yuki-san realizes she loves Kensuke-san too much to give him up. Risking her own happiness and his life, the two embrace and make love, but Kensuke dies shortly after, freezing to death. Yuki-san is heartbroken. The villagers catch wind of this and hunt her down, killing her for murdering their beloved Kensuke-kun. Only moments, alas, before Kensuke-san returns, alive, the gods having blessed his pure heart and allowing him to love Yuki-san, immune to her fatal magic."

"Is this relevant to why you brought us here?" Tsuyoshi demanded. He was getting chilly now.

"It is!" Kazuhiko insisted. He raised a finger and grinned darkly. "There's a much more tragic story behind the play's. Up and coming twenty-one year old actress Fumiko Kaoru had recently joined the Miwa group four months right in the beginning stages of writing Yuki-onna. The director loved her so much, that he immediately cast her as Yuki. Naturally, this upset a few of the senior actresses, who were dying for that role. Add insult to injury, everyone thought Fumiko-san was perfect as Yuki and was highly reveled by the audience."

"Fumiko-san was said to have a bright, chipper personality, which is why her being able to pull off the sullen, cold Yuki-onna made her such a hit," Kazuhiko said. "But, this did not sit well with Ren Saki, who was going to be chosen as Yuki before Fumiko-san showed up. Fellow jealous actresses went about spreading rumors that Fumiko-san was sleeping around with Miwa, which is how she got the part."

"Is that true?"

"Heavens no," Kazuhiko snorted, swishing a hand at Tsuyoshi. "Miwa was too busy playing around with two of his male actors at the time," he snickered. Tsuyoshi just rolled his eyes. Kazuhiko hushed his laughing then as he said, in a more serious tone, "However, it was Ren-san that succeeded in destroying Fumiko-san's rather clean reputation, so it goes." He then laughed again, shrugging. "Even if that meant, you know, killing her."

Tsuyoshi cocked a brow, slightly interested. "Ren killed her?"

"That's what they say," Kazuhiko replied, nodding. "It would be about the sixth showing of Yuki-onna at the time when it happened. During one of the final scenes where Kensuke-kun is convincing Yuki-san to accept his love, Fumiko-san suddenly had a major heart attack and died. Upon autopsy, it was revealed it was due to a slow acting poison. Someone spiked Fumiko-san's tea during the break before the final scene, where it finally kicked in about ten or fifteen minutes later."

"Did Ren confess to the murder?" Tsuyoshi asked.

"No, she pleaded not guilty," Kazuhiko answered. "But no one could prove it was anyone else. Everyone assumed it was her because she had ulterior motives--she both hated Fumiko-san and wanted the part of Yuki herself. If Fumiko-san was unable to perform, Miwa had it where Ren-san would take her place as understudy. Despite all her pleading, Ren-san was tried as guilty and thrown into jail."

Tsuyoshi thought about this for a moment. "So nobody knows who killed her, if not Ren?"

"Oh, someone knows..." Kazuhiko purred. He peered from the corner of his glasses at Satoshi, who had been unceremoniously quiet the entire time. "... She does."

"Who?" Tsuyoshi grunted. "Don't tell me..."

"Fumiko-san's spirit," Kazuhiko insisted, nodding firmly with his arms crossed. He smiled gently at Satoshi. "You sense her there, don't you?"

Satoshi snapped out of his daze and looked back at his companions. "Yup," he chuckled, "she's in there all right."

"Her spirit?" Tsuyoshi muttered.

"This is where it gets spooky," Kazuhiko groaned, crouching by Tsuyoshi. "Legend has it that Fumiko-san's spirit haunts the Miwa Theatre. After death, a new actress took the role of Yuki, since Ren was incarcerated. It had been going all fine and dandy until the scene in which Fumiko-san died in. The lights suddenly flickered on and off, there came banging on the walls and doors and loud wailing. Then the lights all turned off for a whole minute, only to turn on again and--BAM!" He clapped his hands together, causing Tsuyoshi and Satoshi to twitch.

"Standing behind the actress playing Yuki was Fumiko-san herself, dressed up as the character as well. Needless to say everyone ran the hell out of there--all but the actor playing Kensuke, the one who had preformed with her. It was said he was so frightened, he literally died of fear. After that, the theatre closed down--well, at least, until 1921," Kazuhiko stated. "An independent, nomadic theatre troupe came into town and decided to put on a play at the abandoned theatre house."

"What?" Tsuyoshi grumbled. "Did someone die, too?"

"No, no," Kazuhiko said, shaking his head. "During rehearsals, a stage light fell on the lead actress, breaking her leg. The light had been secured, so there was no way it could have just fallen. Nobody tampered with it, either. And nobody really paid the accident much mind--it was just that after all, right? Besides, the actress was openly disliked amongst her peers, said to constantly con or blackmail their group leader and fellow actors for parts she wanted and did not get."

He continued: "Two days later, while helping decorate, an invisible force pushed the actress off the stage. Another day later, while looking through her costumes, someone had scratched her across her back, resulting in four thick welts. Convinced this place was haunted and something was attacking her, she left. None of the other female actresses took the role she left behind in fear the same thing would happen to them. With no one to take the part, and a village that refused to even attend a play in a 'haunted house,' the troupe were forced to cancel their performance and leave."

Tsuyoshi thought about this for a moment. He eyed the theatre for a minute, before saying, "My mother mentioned this place once before when I was a kid. Said your family did something here once, but it happened in the early seventies, if my memory is correct..."

"Oh, yes! 1973 is the last time this theatre was used," Kazuhiko agreed, smiling wide. "A small group of villagers wanted to restore and renovate the Miwa Theatre and continue using it for future plays. They refused to believe it was haunted--all of it was just made up bull from a time where superstitions were big--but they had a priest bless it just in case. That priest was my grandfather." He preened a little here. "It was just turning winter season when the group decided they'd bring the Yuki-onna play back, since it was such a huge hit and classic.

"The first few months of rehearsal were fine. Nothing odd happened at all. This comforted the village who decided to give the place a second chance. It was only when they actually did their first showing did things go down hill," Kazuhiko said. "During the scene where Fumiko-san died, the lights and sounds from long ago started up again. The place was pitch black for a minute, before all the lights came back on. And guess who was there?" he chuckled, hands on his hips. "Standing behind the actress playing Yuki was Fumiko-san herself, still dressed up as Yuki. Everyone hightailed their asses out of there and finally deemed this place untouchable and haunted once and for all."

"So..." Tsuyoshi scratched his cheek, looking upward. "You brought us here for a history lesson..."

Kazuhiko laughed, hands raised. "No, no! There's a very serious reason why I brought you here!" he assured, adjusting his glasses.

"That would be?"

"The sword," Kazuhiko answered. He was referring to the sword used by Tsuyoshi and Satoshi to fight and kill the tengu with. "I told you, it has magical properties. I said if the sword absorbs enough magic, it can easily penetrate the mirror containing Satoshi-kun's sister's spirits, releasing them. You all ready have the Earth elemental, or Chi, courtesy of Tengu-san, may the poor guy rest in peace. Plus Sui from that aoi oni. You're still lacking a handful, one of which you'll find..." He paused to look back at the theatre, grinning wryly. "... Inside there."

"Are you referring to Fumiko's spirit?" Tsuyoshi asked. "If she is one of the elements, which would she be?"

"Easily, she would be Fū or air," Kazuhiko replied. "Spirits and air are often related and very closely bound together. Surely a ghost who has 'lived,' so to speak, for so long and has a good deal of power would be ideal for our little project."

Satoshi mocked big flattered tears. "Uuwaaah," he cried, throwing his arms around the priest, "Sanguro-chan is so considerate and helpful!"

Tsuyoshi couldn't help but feel a little jealous, but more so annoyed. "What do you purpose we do?" he interrupted the cheek to cheek rubbing. "You're a priest--are you going to exorcise it?"

Kazuhiko laughed as Satoshi continued to hang off him. "That's my idea," he agreed, "but I'll need help." He pointed a finger to his cousin. "I can trap it in a state of suspended animation, but you need to be the one who wields the sword that kills and absorbs her power."

Satoshi jumped back and pointed to his face, his grin cute and excited. "What will I be doing?" he asked.

Kazuhiko smiled, and Tsuyoshi could sense a little evil in it. "Well," he purred, "Fumiko-san is somewhat of a dormant spirit. As you can tell, she doesn't really do much or cause any harm unless it's to people playing her role as Yuki--in the case of the actress she tormented, it was because it reminded her of the girls who tormented and spread slander about her. So!"

Satoshi leaned in closer. "So?"

"I purpose we do a little reenactment of our own," Kazuhiko chuckled. He placed a hand on Satoshi's shoulder. "With Satoshi-kun starring as Yuki herself."

"What?" Tsuyoshi blinked, dumbfounded. "You're not saying..."

Satoshi laughed loudly: "I'm going to be bait! And dressed as a girl! Lucky me!"

"... I'm not doing this."

It wasn't as if Tsuyoshi had much say in the matter.

In the end, he was going to have to go through with this. After visiting the site of their next "hunt," the three boys returned to Kazuhiko's place and had a nice big lunch. Most of it was miso soup and inarizushi--which consisted of tons of aburage. Of course Satoshi was in a good spirit after that.

Tsuyoshi had mixed feelings about going through with this mission. He knew Satoshi wasn't a helpless mortal boy. He could take care of himself just fine and then some. But Tsuyoshi guessed when you love someone, you must want to protect them and keep them out of harm's way as much as possible. It wasn't like Satoshi always got out of a fight without so much as a scratch. He nearly died fighting those huli jing, in the process cutting off one of his precious tails, a source of his power and lifeforce.

Still, Tsuyoshi had faith in him and knew this needed to be done. This time around he'd be with him just in case anything went wrong. As frightening as an angry spirit could be, he supposed the worst was all ready over when it came to that Chinese man and woman kitsune. Fighting a ghost seemed like a walk in a field of daisies compared to fighting Qiqiang and Xingjuan.

So everything would be fine, in the end. Not only was he going to be there, but Kazuhiko was, too.

"I take everything I said," Tsuyoshi growled, "right back."

Tsuyoshi completely felt like abandoning the mission when he saw Satoshi dressed up. As a girl.

Satoshi was wearing what supposedly Yuki in the Yuki-onna play wore, according to old photos and documents. A beautiful miko-like robe, white and pure as snow, his face just as pallor, lips full and pale blue, and eyes thick with lashes. For added effect, Satoshi used his transforming powers to grow long black hair and soft brown eyes. Kazuhiko was behind him, tying up his obi.

"I'm beautiful!" Satoshi exclaimed, preening.

"Are those..." Tsuyoshi found his eyes slowly drawn to the lumps at Satoshi's chest. He couldn't finish and turned away.

"No, they're fake," Satoshi snickered, winking and grabbing a handful of the fake breasts. This made Tsuyoshi's ears turn red. "I could have morphed into a girl if I wanted to--but this is more fun!"

Tsuyoshi slapped a hand to his forehead. Satoshi just kept playing with his fake breasts as if they were toys.

Kazuhiko finished with the obi, taking a hair brush from the night stand. "You've pulled off Yuki very well," he said, threading the brush through Satoshi's new black hair, "let's see if you can play her just as great."

"I was born with an actor's charm," Satoshi purred, hands on his hips, chest thrust forward.

"Stop that," Tsuyoshi scowled.

Satoshi stuck up his nose. "You're just jealous."

Tsuyoshi glared at him as if he were insane. Kazuhiko couldn't help but laugh at the couple, brushing a single lock he had laid out in his hand. "If you'd like," he suggested to his cousin, "you could swap places?"

"... What gave you that idea. Seriously."

"Heehee," both Satoshi and Kazuhiko sniggered.

Kazuhiko smoothed out Satoshi's hair, before starting to weave a few locks into the hoops Yuki's character was said to have. "Are you preparing yourself, too?" he inquired.

Tsuyoshi cocked a brow. "I have to dress like a girl, too?"

Kazuhiko released an amused little laugh. "No, no," he sighed, adjusting his glasses. He looked his relative right in the eyes. Tsuyoshi twitched; he could sense some underlying power in Kazuhiko, one he had strangely never felt before. Maybe it was because he was hanging around Satoshi too long. "Are you mentally and physically prepared to fight?"

Satoshi handed Kazuhiko a few hairpins. "Are you still wounded from that evul tengu man?" he teased.

"Shut up," Tsuyoshi answered, not once looking away from his cousin's eyes. "I'm ready."

Kazuhiko smiled proudly and nodded. "Well, then," he breathed, pinning up the other hoop in Satoshi's hair. After a little more adjusting, he stepped back, hands on his hips. "Are you ready now, Satoshi-kun?"

Satoshi wiped some lipstick off his teeth, tugged up his fake breasts and swatted the front of his robe down. He whipped around, flipping open a fan with a winter landscape printed on the front. His leer was slightly visible from behind the thin fabric, and his eyes were thick and heavy with charm and charisma. "Yuki-chan is ready," he purred.

Kazuhiko smiled happily while Tsuyoshi left the room, pretending to ignore the tingling in his groin.

Just as he was about to go to his bedroom, Kazuhiko caught up with him, taking him by the shoulder. Tsuyoshi quickly turned. "Before we go," Kazuhiko breathed, taking a small pack of papers out from his obi, "there's something you need to do."

Tsuyoshi eyed him before slowly taking the papers.

Around six that evening, the group headed back to the Miwa Theatre.

Satoshi was covered up in a hooded coat, blanket wrapped around him. He insisted it was to keep his appearance hidden, but it was more so because he was still so damn cold. Kazuhiko was in the lead again, pack on his back and a large bag in one hand. Tsuyoshi kept to himself most of the time, once and a while flipping through the papers Kazuhiko gave him. Strapped to his back in a scabbard was the sacred sword they would use to exorcise Kaoru Fumiko.

"What're you reading, anyway?" Satoshi asked, curious. Ever since they left, Tsuyoshi had been quiet. No big surprise, but he was reading on top of it. He had another reason to be quiet, and that wasn't just because he was the silent type.

Tsuyoshi would turn red a little, internally blaming the cold and shove the papers away, saying, "Nothing."

Satoshi could obviously tell he was embarrassed. The kitsune in disguise fluttered his big brown eyes and crooned, "Is that some naughty erotica--?"

"No!"

The front doors to the old building opened with a low groan. Birds nesting inside took flight to other beams or back outside the holes from which they came. Dust flooded outside as cold air blew in the all ready freezing theatre, Satoshi coughing as both Tsuyoshi swatted away some old cobwebs abandoned a year or so ago.

A handful of the benches in the audience were in tact, some ripped out or busted. The stage was littered with dirt, leaves and snow from the gaping holes in the roof above. The four poles helping to hold up the stage were chipped and wet; the beautiful backdrop of the final play held at the theatre moth eaten and coated in dust and webbing. It smelt wet and a little foul, and the only source of light came from the holes above of the dimming sun.

"I doubt the lights would work now," Tsuyoshi snorted.

Kazuhiko took out a lantern and flashlight from his backpack, giving one to each of his companions. Tsuyoshi took the lantern, lighting it up with a match. He twitched when Satoshi suddenly leaned forward, casting the light of the flashlight on his face, forming creepy shadows around his furrowed brows and evil leer. "Oooo," he swooned before Tsuyoshi slapped the flashlight away from his face, causing him to laugh.

"I need to go do something in the back," Kazuhiko informed, taking out another flashlight, "you two go ahead and get ready. I'll give the light two flashes from the other side of the auditorium when you can start." With a bow, he left the two alone.

"Don't get possessed or something!" Satoshi called after him with a playful wave.

Tsuyoshi just took Satoshi by the arm and brought him up to the stage.

The two proceeded to clean up some of the mess, brushing or kicking dirt, snow and tiny tree branches off the platform and into the empty benches below. A cold wind would blow through the holes every now and then, rustling the trash or cause a soft whispering sound. "That's her," Satoshi said, shaking his flashlight at Tsuyoshi, "she's coming to get you."

"Oh, shut up," Tsuyoshi scowled, tempted to kick a large rock in Satoshi's face. He just wanted to get this over and done with.

About fifteen minutes later, with a chunk of the stage cleared away good enough for the two, Tsuyoshi raised his lantern to his face when he saw light flicker from the other end of the auditorium. It flickered once, then twice. "There's the signal," he said, taking a deep breath and sitting the lantern down.

Satoshi took off his cloak, mittens and jacket, throwing them aside. "This better be worth it," he muttered, rubbing down his sleeved arms. "My balls are going to freeze off."

Tsuyoshi read over some of the papers again. "Let's get started then," he sighed, blushing slightly. Satoshi went to ask him just how they were going to do that when Tsuyoshi got on one knee, grumbling all the while.

"Are you..." Satoshi swallowed, glancing around. He pointed to his dolled up face. "Are you... purposing to me?"

"No, you idiot," Tsuyoshi snapped. He wanted to go curl up and hide somewhere. He inhaled deeply and grumbled, "Kazuhiko said we need to act out the scene that draws Fumiko out. The one where she died."

Satoshi blinked. "I thought it would just be me?"

"Yeah, well, he had a surprise up his sleeve he decided to throw at me the last minute," Tsuyoshi seethed a little. He didn't want to do this--he couldn't act for shit. "Anyway, let's get this over with. I'm playing this Kensuke guy and you play... Yuki. Just recite the lines he gave you."

Satoshi was a little thrilled. "Oh, well," he giggled, the white make-up hiding his blush, "you have the first line."

Tsuyoshi blinked, dumbfounded, before clutching a fist. Man, how did he get roped into this? He just had to fall in love with a kitsune, now didn't he? Nonetheless, he nodded and decided whining and bitching wasn't going to get him anywhere. Clearing his throat, he thought back on what he read, before looking up at Satoshi with a serious face, saying, "I've finally found you."

Satoshi stared at him, long and hard, with a firm brown gaze before his hands flew to his painted cheeks. "This is so cute!" he squealed.

"Say your line!" Tsuyoshi snarled, twitching.

Satoshi finished with a snicker before straightening, putting on his best firm face. He turned fully to Tsuyoshi, his Kensuke, and the way he looked so serious, so regal in that white kimono of his, it made Tsuyoshi's heart beat faster. "I thought I told you to leave me?" Satoshi, getting into the role of Yuki, stated.

Tsuyoshi coughed. "I can't leave you," he insisted. "I told you: I love you. I meant it. Even if you don't want me, I'll still follow you. I'll chase you to the ends of the Earth if I have to."

Satoshi's frown tightened, turning away from him. "You mortals; you're all so selfish. I don't understand how my brethren envy you creatures..." he murmured.

"But we know how to love, and how to make others feel love," Tsuyoshi said, face strong yet docile in mood. "I showed you, didn't I?" He climbed to his feet, fists clutched to his sides. "When we kissed--you felt it. The warmth; that was love. I know you felt it."

"It does not matter if I felt it or not," Satoshi whispered, "that kiss nearly killed you."

Tsuyoshi studied Satoshi's thin frame. "That may be so," he replied calmly, "but it doesn't change--"

Satoshi suddenly whirled around and glared Tsuyoshi right in the eyes. Tsuyoshi felt a strange ripple go down his spine from that cold, chilling glare. "Silence!" Satoshi snapped, throwing his hand to the side, his big sleeve jumping. "You are wearing on my patience, mortal! Leave now!"

Tsuyoshi shook his head. "I won't--"

"You are a--!"

"I'm not leaving," Tsuyoshi interjected.

Satoshi peered at him with a face as cold as ice. "Even if it means your death?" he inquired in a feather soft voice that was deep enough to resound throughout the whole, empty theatre.

Tsuyoshi nodded. "Even if I die," he answered, firmly, "I would willingly give my life to you."

Satoshi sized him up. "None have lived long in my embrace," he informed. "They wither away like flowers in winter, their bodies turning blue and frozen."

"It is a risk I'm willing to take," Tsuyoshi breathed.

"Even when you kissed me before," Satoshi whispered, "you were nearly chilled to the bone." He raised the corner of his long white sleeve to his face. "No man wishes to die so slowly, so painfully."

"If I were to die in your arms," Tsuyoshi exclaimed, "I would be grateful. I would leave this world with a smile." As if to demonstrate, Tsuyoshi smiled. This time it was Satoshi's turn to feel shivers. "I would ask the gods to be kind, to show mercy on the man who loved what he could not have, so my soul may return to your side."

Satoshi narrowed his eyes, nearly invisible brows knitting. He tried to hide the touched look on his pale face. "You are a fool," he replied.

Tsuyoshi moved towards Satoshi, who took a mere step back. "Then let me die in your embrace!" he exclaimed. "So I can return to this Earth to love you without worry."

"You have a wife, a child," Satoshi reminded, looking away, "why would you throw that good life away to a Yuki-onna? A spirit, no less?"

Tsuyoshi just kept grinning and reached to Satoshi. "All I want in the world," he whispered, "lies in you."

And for a moment, it was silent. Satoshi rose his hands to Tsuyoshi, and slowly squeezed them. The two each took a deep breath, their hearts fluttering in their chests. Tsuyoshi was supposed to make a pained face by the Yuki-onna's freezing touch, but he remained calm, scanning the blonde boy with a thousand emotions and thoughts running through his eyes and mind. Satoshi didn't realize he was playing Yuki's sincere happiness at his embrace perfectly.

This was where Kensuke was to sweep in and give Yuki a kiss, but--

The flashlight on the ground, casting light on Satoshi and Tsuyoshi flickered once, twice, before dying. The two men looked back at it, still holding hands. Just then, the flame in Tsuyoshi's lantern blew out with a hiss of wind. They were in darkness now, the sun having just recently set.

Tsuyoshi leaned closer to Satoshi. "She's here, right?"

"All around us," Satoshi whispered, eyes darting to the left and right. Suddenly, they snapped back in the corners of his eyes, to the darkness behind him. "... Annnd there she is."

The wick of the lantern magically sprouted a new, raging flame, while the flashlight once more breathed the yellow white light. Tsuyoshi looked up, eyes widening, while Satoshi calmly looked behind him.

Standing a few feet away from Satoshi was Kaoru Fumiko. Her spirit had not aged; she still looked so young, but so pale. Dressed in her trademark white kimono, with her painted face and black hair let loose and tied in loops. Her skin was so pallor it was nearly translucent, an ethereal glow outlining her entire form. Tsuyoshi just now noticed she had no feet; rather she merely trailed off into a thin white mist from her knees and down.

Kaoru looked sullen, looked sad and hurt. She frowned and if she could cry, she would, eyes upturned and peering at the two with such sadness. Even Tsuyoshi could feel it. Her pain was so thick, the entire theatre was coated with it, the atmosphere heavy and depressing, even making Tsuyoshi's shoulders feel heavy and knees buckle. Satoshi remained calm under her presence, just watching her silently. She did not move, did not say a thing, merely stared at them.

Finally, with a voice so tiny, she moaned, "Iwao-san... Why?"

Satoshi and Tsuyoshi stood straight, confused. Kaoru's bottom lip trembled, her eyes swelling. "Why did you do it?" she moaned.

Tsuyoshi looked to Satoshi. "Who is Iwao?" he whispered.

"Dunno," Satoshi quietly retorted.

"Iwao-san, you hurt me so much," Kaoru sniffed, rubbing her glowing face with her sleeve. "I thought you were my friend. But I guess I was wrong. A stupid naive girl, that's what Ren-san called me. I guess she was right."

"Ren..." Tsuyoshi muttered. That was the actress supposedly charged for murdering Kaoru.

"I'm so cold, Iwao-san," Kaoru cried. "You made me so cold... I can't sleep, I can't rest. I'm always freezing and alone..." She bowed her head into her sleeves. "You made me cold, you made me lonely... Why would you do that...?"

Tsuyoshi looked around to see if Kazuhiko was nearby. Satoshi remained still, just watching Kaoru.

"Iwao-san, I really looked up to you," Kaoru breathed between hiccups. She kept her face in her pale sleeves. "But now..." Then slowly, she rose her head, just so her brown eyes could peer over her cuffs. But those pretty glowing brown eyes were now stained a deadly red. "... I hate you. I hate you so much, I can't leave. You made me this way. You made me cold, you made lonely, and you made me angry."

Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Tsuyoshi and Satoshi let each other go, stepping back. A loose bench in the audience tumbled over with a loud bang, catching both their attention.

"I'll make you feel my pain..."

Satoshi felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise and he quickly shot a look back at Kaoru. Kaoru, furious and glowing a pale red, rose her hands. Satoshi gasped when he heard a strange creaking noise nearby. He looked back, seeing a board on the stage, right behind Tsuyoshi peering into the audience, slowly yank itself out from the ground, nails falling out.

"Watch out!" Satoshi exclaimed. Tsuyoshi turned to glance back at him before he heard a loud crunch. Twisting around, he saw the board rise off the ground. Kaoru swung one hand forward and the board came flying at Tsuyoshi. Satoshi went to pull him to safety before Tsuyoshi ducked out of the way. The board flew out into the audience, busting in half when it collided with a bench.

"Iwao-san!" Kaoru snarled. "You will die!"

Before Tsuyoshi could go for his sword, the rest of the boards on the stage began trembling, ripping themselves free. Satoshi and Tsuyoshi quickly hopped off the stage before it suddenly collapsed in on itself. The two backed down the dirty aisle between benches, watching as Kaoru breezed down towards them. "You won't get away this time," she seethed.

Tsuyoshi rolled one eye back at Satoshi. "If she's a ghost," he breathed, "how am I going to kill her? A sword would go through her, wouldn't it?"

"When spirits attach themselves to the material world, they still have the mentality of a living person," Satoshi answered as Kaoru poured into the aisle from the stage. "They feel regret, anger, sadness, all that good stuff. If they allow themselves to feel pain, they will. This creates a type of matter around them that is close to what we'd call skin."

Just then, Kaoru rose her hand, a board with a jagged end rising in the air with her. "Iwao-san!" she barked, sending her hand forward, the board flying right at Tsuyoshi.

Luckily Tsuyoshi unsheathed his sword just in time, using it to slice the board in half, both pieces falling lifeless at his feet. Kaoru ground her teeth angrily, sliding out onto the floor.

"Rashomon-chan," Satoshi said, digging in the front of his kimono. He produced one sack of rice which he had used for a breast. "Let me show you what I was talking about!"

Satoshi swung his arm back. "Hooo!" he exclaimed, throwing the rice bag at Kaoru. Kaoru was too busy focusing her attention on Tsuyoshi to notice; the rice bag hit her in the shoulder, causing her to gasp and recoil. It bounced off of her, showing it did not go through. "There!" Satoshi beamed, proud of himself.

"I see," Tsuyoshi smirked, taking a step forward with his sword.

"I will not allow you to hurt me again!" Kaoru shrieked, spreading her arms. The benches stuck to the ground unearthed, rumbling like falling rocks on both sides of the men. Satoshi and Tsuyoshi went back to back as the benches floated in the air above their heads. Kaoru angled her hands to point forward, causing the benches all to come together, aimed at Satoshi and Tsyoshi. "Ha!" Kaoru growled, stabbing her hands forward.

The benches all came storming down at Satoshi and Tsuyoshi at full speed. Tsuyoshi raised his sword, even though he knew he was no match. However, luckily, Satoshi generated his hoshi-no-tama just in time, causing the glowing orb to grow until it had consumed both men in a bright white light. When the benches hit the light, they broke off into dozens of little splinters. When every one of them were chipped up and gone, the hoshi-no-tama shrunk back to normal size, revealing Satoshi in his formal robes, kitsune ears and six bushy tails present.

"What are you!?" Kaoru snarled at Satoshi.

"I was Yuki-tan," Satoshi giggled, poking himself in the cheeks. "A damn good one, too."

This infuriated Kaoru more than anything. Tsuyoshi went to attack her with his sword before her entire body exploded into a huge gale. It spread into a cyclone around the entire auditorium, Satoshi and Tsuyoshi stuck right in the middle. Before the two could be swept off their feet, Tsuyoshi stabbed his sword into the ground and grabbed Satoshi, forcing his hand to hold on to the hilt with him. The winds were so strong, kicking up snow and dirt, it was hard for them to see.

"Where is she!?" Tsuyoshi shouted over the howling.

"Everywhere!" Satoshi exclaimed. "She is the wind!"

Just then, out from the walls of wind shot orbs of bright light. Satoshi shot balls of fire at them; when they collided, they burst into bright white and blue flames before disappearing. "Don't let one of those hit you!" Satoshi shouted. "They're cold as ice and they absorb your energy!"

Tsuyoshi just ducked from one of the orbs right after he finished. "I pretty much figured that out myself all ready," he replied loudly.

"You will not escape my wrath, Iwao!" Kaoru howled from all directions.

More and more of these orbs continued to rain down on Tsuyoshi and Satoshi. Satoshi managed to fight them off with his fireballs, but when the amount became too much, he resorted in using his hoshi-no-tama as a shield again. "I can't use the shield for too long," he said, the winds dead beneath the protection of the dome of light, "though I am more powerful than a common onryu, if too many of those orbs hit my shield for too long, it'll seriously drain me of energy for a while."

"We need to get her back into her human form," Tsuyoshi scowled. He certainly didn't want Satoshi relapsing into another coma.

"We just have to figure out where her weak point's at," Satoshi said, wincing when ten orbs of energy hit his shield at once. "Hit that and she'll revert back into her humanoid form. She's not as powerful then."

Tsuyoshi cursed. "Where the Hell is Kazuhiko!?" he snapped.

"Iwao! Accept your fate!" Kaoru shrieked. "Die, and feel my pain!"

Tsuyoshi and Satoshi drained out her voice to concentrate. Tsuyoshi looked around at the vibrant wind under the thin light of the shield dome. He looked around, trying to figure where Kaoru's weak point was in that entire hurricane. Suddenly, an idea came to him and he quickly looked upwards. Above their head, he noticed a small swirl of gray energy. So tiny, it looked like dust hovering in the air.

Tsuyoshi turned to Satoshi. "Shoot at that cloud above!" he ordered, pointing to the gray matter above their heads. Satoshi looked up at it. "With air being wind, it makes sense it would come from above! Plus if this is a type of storm, there must be the eye of the storm, which is located in the center where we are. Thus, that has to be her weak spot!" he explained.

Satoshi grinned. "Oh, Rashomon-chan, you are so wise," he chuckled. He looked around, watching as the orb of lights relentlessly hit his shield. "In order to do so, I'm going to have to lower the shield."

"All right then," Tsuyoshi replied, nodding.

Satoshi generated a glowing ball of blue fire in his hands. "Ready?"

Tsuyoshi yanked his sword out from the ground, using it to shield the top of his head. "Now," he snapped.

The shield disappeared in a flash of light to return to the star ball. Both men stood, Tsuyoshi blocking orbs of light and cutting through them with his sword. Satoshi took aim for the little gray cloud above and shot his fireball at it. The moment the ball of fire collided with the cloud, Kaoru shrieked, causing the entire building to shiver and shake. Tsuyoshi and Satoshi fell against each other, managing to keep the other one balanced.

The winds circling them died down and poured back to its original source, all until Kaoru was once more standing in the aisle in front of them. She painfully clutched at her heart, making gasping noises. "Iwao..." she groaned. She looked straight in Tsuyoshi's eyes, both enraged and hurt. "Just like then..."

Before Kaoru could launch another attack, Kazuhiko flew out behind her from the wing of the stage. He was dressed in traditional kunnashi Shinto priest wear, his kamishimo, hakama and kataginu black and white, as if he were attending a funeral. He whipped out an o-fuda scroll and pinned it hard into Kaoru's back, shouting, "Rin, pyo, tou, sha, kai, jin, retsu, zai, zen!"

Kaoru gasped and went to turn, but found her entire being frozen. "I--I can't move!" she cried, eyes wide and fearful.

Kazuko stepped out from behind the frozen Kaoru and smiled at his friends. "Sorry I'm late," he chuckled, "my kataginu was giving me trouble."

"You took your damn time!" Tsuyoshi snarled, clenching a fist.

"Oh?" Kazuhiko titled his head, fixing his glasses. "Were you waiting for me?" Tsuyoshi was tempted to run his sword through his cousin. Nonetheless, the bespectacled boy stepped aside from the shivering, helpless onryu. "Now, absorb her power and free her spirit!"

"N-No!" Kaoru yelped. She tried so hard to move, but the o-fuda was keeping her firmly in place.

"All right," Tsuyoshi grumbled. He turned the katana in his hand and made his way down the aisle, towards Kaoru.

"N-No!" Kaoru cried. "Iwao! You can't hurt me again!"

Tsuyoshi stopped a few feet in front of her. "I'm not Iwao," he said coldly. He drew back his sword; her eyes watched it with horror. "And you need to get the Hell out of here. Go to Heaven or whatever." With that, and Kaoru's shrill plea, he brought his sword forward and pierced it right through her stomach and right back out. She did not bleed, and nor did she move, even as the o-fuda slipped from her back.

Light began to glow immensely from Kaoru's impaled body. So bright, both Tsuyoshi, Satoshi and Kazuhiko had to squint their eyes and look away.

Kaoru's face, once contorted in horror, suddenly lightened, softened. "It's so warm..." she whispered, smiling. As she slowly shut her soft brown eyes, her entire body became engulfed with the blinding light.

Just as fast as it came, the light was gone, and so was Kaoru Fumiko.

Tsuyoshi opened his eyes and looked down at his katana. The blade was glowing, surrounded by a white mist. The mist then poured itself into the shining blade, before the glow faded away, turning everything dark again.

"Is she in the sword?" Satoshi asked, stepping forward. His tails twitched to the side.

Kazuhiko picked up his flashlight, shining it on the blade. "No, just her powers. Her soul went to the beyond, finally free of her wrath," he explained with a small smile.

Tsuyoshi continued to stare at his reflection in the sword. "She kept calling me Iwao," he stated.

Kazuhiko chuckled. "It seems she gave us our answer," he said. "Hiro Iwao was one of the actors working in the Miwa troupe. Well respected and handsome, too. He was given the role of Kensuke in the Yuki-onna play. It was rumored he was lovers with Ren Saki, but then again, he played around with lots of women. I think perhaps it was him who had poisoned and killed Fumiko-san."

"Why would he do that?" Satoshi asked.

"Who knows," Kazuhiko sighed, shrugging. "Maybe he didn't like her, or maybe he did it for Ren, feeling that if he got rid of Fumiko-san, then Ren could get the part she so 'rightfully' owned."

"Hmm," Tsuyoshi grumbled, sliding the sword back in the scabbard on his back. "All of them were idiots. At least we got something out of all this."

"Yes!" Satoshi clapped. "Now all we need are Yami, Hikari, Kū and Ka!"

"Yes, that's all good and dandy," Tsuyoshi grumbled, before reaching out and grabbing Kazuhiko by the front of his kataginu, "but where the Hell were you this entire time!?"

"I was meditating and preparing the spell for the binding," Kazuhiko answered, hanging in Tsuyoshi's clutches with a smile. "You were both bait, not just Satoshi-kun."

"Do you like springing things on people at the last minute!?"

"That kataginu looks neat, but kinda weird on you, Sanguro-chan. But I really like the hakama pants."

"Why, thank you! I picked them out myself!"

"Are you even listening to what I said!?"

After collecting everything and finishing things up, the three left the old building to its privacy once more. But not without stopping to give their blessing, and pray Kaoru was now resting peacefully wherever she was.

T/B/C

After Notes:

Yuki-onna: A legendary Japanese mythological entity. They are, obviously, female snow sprites. They come in a variety of media and stories of their own. Yuki means 'snow.'

Kannushi: Term for a Shinto priest.

Kamishimo: A type of uniform worn by samurai soldiers and Shinto priests. It consists of a sleeveless jacket top kataginu and hakama bottom/shirt.

Yami, Hikari, Kū, Ka, Sui, Chi and Fū: darkness, light, "void," fire, water, earth and air, respectively. They can also go under other names, such as hi for fire, mizu for water, tsuchi for earth, etc. In this story, Kū/Void represents the gray area, or source of magic, when in Japanese beliefs it's the center of pure energy, etc.

Rin, pyo, tou, sha, kai, jin, retsu, zai, zen: I've used this in other stories, but it's basically used to ward off evil spirits and whatnot.

Onryu: Kaoru is called once or twice an 'onryu.' The onryu is the name of vicious, angry spirits in Japanese culture. Most famous onryu are Kayako Sakae from Ju-On and Sadako from Ringu.

Tengu also use air/wind for power, so they could have qualified as an air type too, but that wouldn't be fun. ;P He just gets Earth elemental.