Ichiro sprawled forward out of the dark portal and took a moment to regain his balance before looking ahead at an unperturbed Hideo.

"Wait," he called out, drifting over the narrow road to catch up with the man's brisk pace. "How do you know where to go? Have you met my wife before?"

Hideo abruptly stopped, and the momentum of his swaying arm resulted in his square-shaped bag passing through Ichiro's right thigh. Ichiro stared down in surprise as it occurred to him that his companion possessed an earthly body. He swallowed, unsure of what to make of such a revelation.

"No, I haven't," Hideo replied, drawing Ichiro's attention upwards. "But I can sense her spiritual energy. She's the only kitsune around for miles."

"Really?" Ichiro remarked as they both resumed walking. "That's some ability you have. How did you acquire it?"

Hideo chuckled without slowing down. "Would you really like to know?"

"I do."

"I've been practising for fifty years. My senses were dull at first, but now they're sharp enough that I can distinguish different yōkai from each other."

"Oh." Ichiro found himself interested again. "How do you distinguish between them?"

"The same way one can tell different foods and colours apart. Each type has its distinct characteristics and airs. For example, your wife currently emanates warmth like a campfire."

Ichiro smiled at the description. It was comforting to know that Kumiko was still a being of heat and vitality after almost four centuries. He hoped that she would display such qualities when they reunited.

"But there's something strange," Hideo continued in a hushed voice. "She's being accompanied by a tanuki and some other creature I cannot place. I'm not sure why the three of them are together."

"Do you know what they're doing?" Ichiro asked as his worry grew once more.

"I'm sorry, but I have no idea. That's where my perception ends."

Ichiro quickened his pace as much as a ghost could. "Well, maybe we should make haste. Kumiko is strong, but she isn't immune to danger."

"Whatever you say," Hideo obliged with a sigh. "We'll take a shortcut, but I can't guarantee it will help us much."

The older man gestured for Ichiro to follow him into a nearby alleyway. Ichiro hesitated for a few seconds, then decided to take another risk for Kumiko. After all, he would have difficulty forgiving himself if she ended up hurt by his inaction.

To his relief, Hideo made no attempt to harm him, and they slipped through the darkness while using the occasional light as guidance.

******

Ichiro's excitement and anxiety were hard to contain when they entered the tall white building and scaled two sets of stairs to reach a door with a mysterious symbol emblazoned upon it.

"What does that mean?" he asked uneasily as Hideo moved forward to knock twice.

"You mean the number on the door?"

"Is that what it is?"

The door swung open, blasting Ichiro with light that made him blink in discomfort before his sight cleared and his heart sank. It wasn't Kumiko at the door but a wizened old man he didn't recognize. Ichiro's mind filled with dread about his wife's fidelity.

"Oh, Ichiro, you're back. I see you've changed your hair-"

"Silence," Ichiro snapped. "Where is Kumiko? I must speak with her..."

The old man inched backwards in apparent fear. "I don't know what's going on, but you're not alone, are you?"

Ichiro suddenly felt guilty for losing his temper. He glanced at Hideo, who shook his head in disapproval. With a forced smile, Ichiro sought to fix his blunder by adopting a more polite tone and drawing attention to his companion. " A few hours ago, I was stranded in a dark realm with no idea of where to go, but the most unlikely person came to lead me back here. Meet Tanimura-san..."

He stepped aside, finding it surprising when Hideo was all too glad to reveal himself.

The old man gaped in shock. "Holy crap. You're... you're Yukari's father..."

Ichiro wondered why that was so surprising.

"How's this possible? You've been dead for ages..."

"Simple," Hideo said with a small measure of mirth. "I came back."

The old man wrinkled his brow in frustration. "That doesn't explain anything..."

Silence fell, causing Ichiro's impatience to grow again. He pushed himself between the two older men and demanded their attention. "I don't know what's happening here, but I have to see my wife again. She's around, isn't she?"

"Of course," the old man exclaimed, apparently just as eager to end the awkward conversation. "Come in! I'll show you to her!" He beckoned, and Ichiro drifted inside while Hideo followed. However, the old man pushed the door closed before his companion could cross the threshold.

"Not you, sorry. You'll have to wait outside."

Hideo let out a groan of disappointment. The old man turned towards Ichiro with a suspicious glare. "You have to tell me what's going on. How did you meet that guy when he's been dead for fifty years?"

Ichiro didn't know enough about Hideo's past to offer a definite answer, but he was aware of how recently he had been resurrected. "Well, he approached me and offered help in exchange for reuniting with his daughter..."

The old man rolled his eyes and sighed. "Fine, I'll take that story for now. Come along..." He guided Ichiro past a small shelf filled with shoes of various colours, then towards the tiny room containing another large white chamber pot that magically cleansed itself. Ichiro could still remember Kumiko's instructions on how to use it, though the name of the object currently eluded him.

I suppose that thing isn't too bad, even if it does produce a terrible noise...

With a sweep of one arm, the old man directed him towards the room on the right and then knocked.

"What is it, Futoshi?" Kumiko asked gently from within, though Ichiro could detect a hint of frustration in her voice. He exhaled and tried to feel happy that he had just learnt the old man's name.

"I have a surprise for you," Futoshi called back. "You'll have to see it to believe it!"

The patter of dainty feet sounded before the door opened to reveal Kumiko's radiant beauty. She wore a long white garment that did little to obscure her curves, and Ichiro was suddenly overcome by a flurry of emotions. He opened his mouth to speak, but only one word was willing to come out.

"Kumiko..."

"Ichiro?" she murmured as her lovely eyes widened in shock. "Is that really you? Am I dreaming?"

Ichiro's mind cleared, though he still found it difficult to speak. "No... I... I've been looking for you..." He paused to allow himself time to think, only for Kumiko's face to form a frown. She placed both hands on her hips, drawing his attention to the bandage wrapped around her left forearm. He wanted to question her about it, but she resumed speaking.

"Okay, what kind of joke is this, Futoshi? I thought we were past that sort of thing..."

"This isn't some trick! I'll show you!" Futoshi approached with one hand at the ready. Ichiro realised what was coming and panicked within. Futoshi's hand connected with his shoulder and passed right through, causing an intense but temporary numbness.

Kumiko wasn't amused by the sight. In dismay, she tapped her foot as a figure stirred on the bed behind her. It sat up to reveal a face covered entirely by dressings, save for a pair of golden-brown eyes that seemed to regard him with curiosity.

"Is that the real Ichiro?" the mysterious figure asked in a muffled but distinctly feminine voice. "I'm impressed. He puts your foolish disguise to shame..."

"Don't say that," Kumiko snapped. "I know you fell for it." She turned to face Futoshi and a now bewildered Ichiro, who could only assume that the bandaged woman was the unknown creature Hideo had mentioned.

If it's true, then that must make you the tanuki, he thought while glancing at Futoshi. And also, an idiot...

Kumiko cleared her throat and stepped into the hallway before closing the bedroom door. She met eyes with Ichiro while folding both arms across her chest.

"Futoshi, could you leave us alone? I have a feeling this is private."

The old man nodded, then took his leave by heading back towards the front door. Ichiro found himself able to relax for the first time in minutes. He observed Kumiko's restless face and prepared to speak again.

"Kumiko," he began. "It really is me. I'm not an illusion..."

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear with a sigh. "If so, then where's your body? Don't tell me that you've died again..."

"I haven't," Ichiro insisted, only to feel some doubt as he sought to explain what he understood so far. "Or at least I don't think so. There was a strange man named Tsutomu living in my mind, and he must have found a way to force me out..."

Kumiko swallowed and then averted her gaze. "I can understand why you might think this, but Tsutomu isn't that kind of person. He wouldn't have done it on purpose..."

Ichiro's mood dropped at her words. It seemed like he was no longer important to her, and he shifted his feet before forcing himself to ask a question to which he feared the answer. "Kumiko, do you still love me?"

Her eyes darted upwards. "What do you mean?"

"Answer my question. Please."

She sighed, clenching her fists. "Of course I do. Why do you think I brought you back?"

Ichiro reflected on the pain of the past few days. None of it would have happened if she had let him rest instead of reviving him centuries later.

"I don't know," he replied as firmly as possible. "You tell me."

Kumiko stared, and though Ichiro saw tears well up in her eyes, he tried to convince himself that it was just his imagination.

"I... I really do love you. But I wasn't strong enough then. Bringing you back to life would have killed me..."

Ichiro briefly closed his eyes, trying to drive out the thought of Kumiko dying for his sake. He opened them again, and upon seeing her distraught, fought hard against the desire to comfort her with his embrace.

"I'm sorry," he said while retreating. "I should be able to forgive you, but I can't. Your lies have hurt me too much."

Kumiko wiped at her eyes. "Ichiro, please. I can explain..."

Ichiro wanted nothing more than for his torture to end, so he continued to drift away from her. "No, you can't. Perhaps it's time that we parted ways again. You might just be better off without me..."

At that, he slipped through the front door to be met by an idle Hideo, who stood up straight and regarded him with worry. "Is everything all right? You look heartbroken."

Ichiro swallowed while staring the other man in the eye. "I'm fine. There's nothing wrong..."

"Are you sure? You can talk to me if-"

"No," Ichiro insisted despite already feeling hollow inside. "It's over now. We should talk about your daughter Yukari..."

Hideo shrugged his shoulders with a sigh. His look of pity transformed into one of determination. "Whatever you say. We'll go somewhere quiet..."