A Shiki Story

Fifteenth Deceit

Violet

It now had been seven days since that Yuuki boy died, she noticed as she moved through the heavily fogged woods. She had just been to his home and she felt something, the boy most likely rose but what was he now ? A Jinrou ?

As the sun set Chizuru came down, most likely to one of the buildings full of Shiki.  Shrugging she spent the night wandering like a prowling leopard until she noticed a river of humans in black.  Slipping unnoticed into their Sotoba Funeral Home she saw the flamboyant Hayami juggling some candy bars.

"Were doing quite well. See, the Temple can't handle things themselves because so many people are dying, so..." Hayami sat to Tatsumi. Letting herself in the room she sat down on part of the couch Tatsumi occupied. "Three days ago, we grandly held the funeral for Mr. Yoshikazu Tanaka perfectly and flamboyantly," Hayami said cheerfully as he leaned in closer to a teeth bared Tatsumi.

Tatsumi did remind her of a wolf to point this out. "Flamboyantly ?" Tatsumi questioned with his arms crossed. She had a feeling Hayami forgot what he was doing, funerals were not flashy. "Yes !" The candy bars fell neatly into the waiting cotton candy pink top hat. "Is it really going to be okay ? I guess I'll have to observe today's funeral," Tatsumi said seriously. "Understood !" Hayami said with a bow.

"Well then, please obseve it while enjoying a chocolate bar," Hayami cheerfully said. "No thanks !" Tatsumi growled. Sounds like Hayami is awakening the beast, she thought as she got up to follow Tatsumi. Confetti was blasted with the sound of upbeat drums, looking around at the somber confused humans she pointed out childishly,"Hayami went way overboard with this."

As the stage lit up the pink wearing Shiki announced through the microphone,"Well...Atsushi had a kind heart and respected his parents. He was a promising young man who was well liked by his many friends !" Looking back she saw a not happy Tatsumi. "Now everyone ! It's finally time to say goodbye !" Hayami announced after everyone put a yellow flower into the occupied coffin.

With that the screen of the deceased waved goodbye and the blast of fog was let out. "Well, everyone, goodbye !" Hayami cheered as the stage he stood on went down. Goodbye the screen read as once again more confetti was blasted. 

"This is behind the hall, underneath of the alter. The coffin is brought down via the trap is switched with an empty one here.Then the empty one is given to the family, put on the bier and brought to the cemetery on the mountain by them. And...the corpse will be kept here for a while in order for us to check if they rise up" Hayami explained to them, showing them a corpse.

"Doing things this way, we can save the time it takes to dig up our fellows," Tatsumi said. "Sotoba Funeral Home was created exactly for that purpose." Tatsumi sniffed the wavering scent,"He's going to rise up today." Giving the scent a sniff she added,"Yup, Tatsumi's right." 

"Whoa ! Just as we'd expect from a Jinrou. You both have a good nose ~!" Hayami cheered as he wiggled happily. Giving the corpse a sniff he added,"Well then, we'll immediately move him to Yamairi."

"Also, make the funerals a little less flashy. Funerals are for the surviving families and friends. They want a place where they can indulge in sentimentality," Tatsumi instructed. "Yes, understood ! If you say so, Mr. Tatsumi, we'll start it, say tomorrow."