Priceless Smile 3

Chapter 7: Harbinger of Death

     Everyone's  now gathered in the living room waiting for Kanae to wake up who's now lying on the couch. The girls left earlier as they're now playing outside chasing each other, though they're still levitating. The living room is covered in mere silence. It's so silent that you would hear even a single pin drop.

Until a certain someone decided to break it.

"How are we suppose to tell this to Kanae?" Tengen asked. "That Shinobu offended the Harbinger of Death."

Sanemi let out a frustrated sigh with his forehead resting on his palms. Even he is scared for how this information would affect Kanae, and also the fact that there's no assurance whether his sister-in-law would come back in one piece or not. Even Kanao is slowly going on the brink of breaking down after her hopes of Shinobu coming back safely was shattered. Tanjiro couldn't do nor say anything, he could only tightly hold Kanao's hand on his lap.

When Kanae woke up, it was already sunset. No one could tell her about what the girls told them of her sister's situation and so, Kagaya did it. As calm and as clear as he could, without showing his own fear, he told Kanae everything. After listening to it all, Kanae broke down on Sanemi's arms. The girls watched in glee behind a pillar watching everyone's despair and Kanae breaking down.

"Now that's what they get." Mirai grinned. "It's very amusing watching humans fall."

"Let's tell Sakae. I'm sure he'll be happy." Genzai suggested as the two nodded in agreement and the three of them went to Sakae's room.

Just as they get nearer to it, they heard sounds of heavy breathing and creaking. Their brows and the corners of their mouths twitched. Just when they thought they heard enough, loud moans came right after.

"Is it today?" Kako asked looking at Mirai.

"Yep." She answered. "How could I forget that today is Sakaki-san's arrival back from the human realm." She facepalmed her self.

Then, more moaning noises came out of the room that made them cover their ears and go away.

"Let's go and don't bother them. I'm sure we won't like what's happening behind those doors." Genzai said that made their faces turn red.

"Seriously, I still regret how we just went right in years before. It's so embarrassing." Kako said reminding them how they caught the couple doing the deed in the room.

     Now, Yūrei is still sitting on the ground as Shinobu stayed asleep. Just then, a black flame orb came from the far side of the river. A notice that spirits to be accommodated has arrived, either to throw them into the river or let them cross the other side to receive a different kind of punishment or trial. He wanted to do his work, but once he leaves the thorns would grow again underneath Shinobu and would completely wrap her. Leaving him without a choice, he slowly scooped Shinobu from the ground and carried her with one arm. The red flame from his lantern then came out circling around his head as if saying to Yūrei that it will carry Shinobu.

"Don't worry... I... can... do it." Yūrei reassured.

The red flame orb then stopped moving and went back inside the lantern. Yūrei walked towards the riverside where a boat is waiting for him. Upon stepping in, the boat moved by itself and into the thick mist that covers the other side from the side that they came from. Standing steadily on the boat, his hair moved covering Shinobu's face down to her ankles that made only her feet visible.

"The mist here would hurt her once it touches her face." Yūrei thought facing ahead.

And within a minute, the boat gently bumped the other side's land. Yūrei stepped out of the boat, his feet meeting the thorn filled ground, no different from the side where he stays. Turning to his left, he headed to the bridge. There, he faced a long line of spirits in white kimonos that couldn't get on the bridge, they would need his permission first. Upon seeing him, the spirits immediately rushed to him in a frenzy.