After having driven all day long, Karamatsu found the small village in the mountains which he had marked on his map.

Having studied what kind of people lived in this village, Karamatsu decided that it would be an okay place to rest for a bit (not to mention, fill up on gas for the van).

Ichimatsu awoke from his deep slumber as soon as the car stopped.

Tears immediately began to escape from his eyes because of how terrible he felt.

"They're doing this all because of me..." Ichimatsu thought, struggling to sit up in the back seat. He could see Karamatsu in the drivers seat, staring at one of the photos Ichimatsu had saved from the fire. "Karamatsu would have never done this in the past...he's changed so much..."

"Nii-san?" Jyushimatsu whispered quietly, peeking out from behind his seat, forcing a gentle smile on his face. "Are you okay?"

Ichimatsu nodded his head, forcing himself to sit up, a worse pain shooting through his arms and legs as he did such.

Karamatsu put the photo into his coat pocket then turned off the car, turning around to face his two younger brothers.

"I'm going to see if the small motel here is still open at this time of night. If there's not a room for three, I'll sleep in the car," Karamatsu said, buttoning up his coat before he opened the car door, stepping out into what sounded like snow.

A gust of cold wind entered the car, sending chills throughout Ichimatsu's body.

"Why am I even here..." Ichimatsu thought in pain, watching his little brother stare out the car window, looking at nothing but darkness. "I'm only making things worse for everyone...maybe things will be better off if I'm just dead..."

"I thought you didn't want to die," Todomajo said dryly, suddenly appearing before Ichimatsu's eyes in the back seat beside him. "and yet here you are, wanting to go on. Selfish."

"Go away!" Jyushimatsu cried out in fear. "Don't touch my brother!"

Todomajo looked over to Jyushimatsu and yawned, crossing his legs as he leaned back a little, making himself at home in the van.

"Do you think you can control me?" Todomajo asked, chuckling a little.

Jyushimatsu didn't say anything.

"That's right," Todomajo said, pulling a cigarette out from the inside of his cloak. "I didn't think so."

"Don't hurt nii-san..." Jyushimatsu whimpered, beginning to tremble in his chair.

Though Ichimatsu's vision was blurred, he could tell from his little brother's tone of voice, that he was infuriated, trying to keep everything inside like a volcano.

Todomajo leaned forward and grabbed both of Jyushimatsu's wrists, lifting him right out of his carseat, all with a smug, amused look across his face.

Jyushimatsu squirmed around a bit, trying to get away from the witch.

Todomajo's amused expression quickly faded away, discouraged to find how light the little boy was.

"That's strange," Todomajo hissed under his breath. "I could have sworn I blocked gods from getting to you..."

"W-What..." Ichimatsu muttered, forcing words out of his mouth despite his pain.

"Jyushimatsu," Todomajo snickered, "come see me tomorrow. I'll be at my fortune telling tent in this village."

And with that, Todomaji vanished just as Karamatsu opened up the car door.

"I have a room for three!" Karamatsu announced, sounding proud of himself. He seemed to be in lighter spirits than he had been at the start of their journey.

Jyushimatsu looked shaken up, but he tried his very best not to sound it.

"Yay!" Jyushimatsu giggled, turning around to look at Ichimatsu again. "Did you hear that, nii-san? We have a room tonight! We can be comfortable!"

Ichimatsu nodded his head in pain, smiling weakly even though tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Let's not waste any time then," Karamatsu said walking around the car to help his two brothers out.