"So what did you mean when you said that you know why I can't remember my name?" the yokai steered the conversation back on track.

'She's capable of conducting a complex dialogue, remembering earlier topics. Hard to say if that's good or bad. On one hand, it'll be harder to confuse her, but on the other, you don't have to worry about her forgetting you and eating you.'

"First of all, esteemed Kuchisake-onna, I would like to present to your attention several observations of mine that will allow you to understand much deeper what... or rather, who you are."

"When you get so formal, Shiro-kun, I start to feel embarrassed," the girl covered her face with her hand. But Stas wasn't deceived by this pretense. Before him sat a deadly man-eating spirit, who, like a cat playing with a mouse, hadn't yet done anything dangerous. "But I'm all ears."

The issue was that such games rarely end well. And Ordyntsev needed to rectify the situation urgently.

"The main sources of information for me were the tales of palace servants and the responses of some people I questioned about the various manifestations of the mystical side of our world," Ordyntsev began to explain in detail.

Kuchisake-onna stopped her playfulness and focused on the speaking man, who himself got into the spirit of things, sharing his observations and conclusions about this world for the first time with someone else.

"Firstly, from what the locals said, it became clear that virtually anything can become the basis for a spirit's birth. For instance, a forgotten lute that has accumulated resentment and malice can transform into a Biwa-yango. A demon-lute that would drive its owners mad, avenging the neglect and oblivion. Moreover, if initially it might have been dirty and broken, after rebirth, it becomes one of the most beautiful and expensive lutes."

Stas looked closely at the pensive Kuchisake-onna.

"As you can see, the rebirth significantly changes the appearance and essence of even a simple lute, let alone a person. And here we come to the second point."

Stas took a deep breath and continued.

"Yokai are born different, and their strength also varies greatly. All of my interlocutors spoke about how the strongest yokai appear in places where a large number of living beings have died. One might think that death itself is the initiator of this process. However," Stas raised his finger, "I tend to disagree with this statement. Or rather, not fully agree. Yes, death indeed seems to have a significant influence, as it can give birth to spirits like Jubokko or Gashadokuro…"

"Don't say those names!" someone's cool palm covered Stas's lips - he didn't even notice how his interlocutor had gotten so close.

The yokai in the form of a girl nervously looked around, as if listening to a sound only she could hear. Stas also froze, trying not to even breathe.

Finally, she exhaled with relief.

"Those are very, very bad names," she lowered her hand, allowing Stas to speak. Ordyntsev involuntarily noted that her hand could hardly be mistaken for that of a living being. Firstly, it was too cold and hard, and secondly, incredibly smooth. As if in creating her body, Kuchisake-onna hadn't thought to make the palms even slightly rough.

"Have you seen them?" Stas asked with interest, trying to understand the reason for such a panic-stricken fear.

"No, but something inside me speaks of their danger," the spirit pondered. "They are strong. Much stronger than me. Very evil and hungry. For blood and flesh. For the crunch and grind of bones, for the carnage from which they were born…"

"That's not surprising," Ordyntsev hastened to snap his interlocutor out of her suspicious trance. "A gigantic carnivorous tree grown on a battlefield and an equally huge skeleton born, again, from battle, slaughter, or famine. Servants talked about them, albeit briefly."

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Stas organized his thoughts, taking a brief pause.

"But as I said, death is only one of the conditions for the birth of a strong yokai. The second condition - this is just my own speculation - lies in the presence of powerful, often negative emotions."

Overwhelmed by his feelings, Ordyntsev even gestured with his hand.

"It is these two components that show us that people at the moment of their death and experiencing strong negative emotions sometimes can be reborn as yokai. However, as with the lute, this process has a serious impact on the very essence of the resulting being. Just as the lute changed its appearance and essence, so you forgot your name and, quite possibly, this appearance is not yours at all."

"You're bold, Shiro-kun," the yokai tilted her head to the side. "To say that to a girl, one must be," she paused, "a very honest person," her eyes relayed a smile. "I'm glad I wasn't wrong about you."

"We're coming to the most important part," Stas simply nodded at the dubious compliment. It had been too long since anyone had called him an honest person. Moreover, whoever had been watching him during all the conversations, from Yuchi to Akiro, must surely know his "honesty."

"From everything I've said, one could conclude that because of the abundance of various deaths, lost musical instruments, and other crazy conditions, there shouldn't be two yokai that are alike. But that's absolutely not the case!"

Ordyntsev shook his head.

"There are quite clear types of yokai, and spirits from these categories are found in the most different parts of the world. And importantly, they indeed resemble each other. Take, for example, you, Kuchisake-onna. May I do that?" Ordyntsev asked, just in case.

"You don't need to ask, Shiro-kun," the girl's eyes mysteriously twinkled. "I'm very interested in what you will say next."

"Thank you, lady. So, Kuchisake-onna. You belong to a rather rare and strong type of yokai. From what I've heard, your kind comes from murdered women and girls who were unfairly slandered and cruelly killed. For example, for possible infidelity and a sinful relationship with another man in secret from her husband."

"Yes," the spirit murmured softly, lowering her face so that her black hair covered it. "I remember... But I did nothing, yet he wouldn't listen..."

"Most likely, at the moment of death, you were angry with him and with the whole world. Your emotions and your death allowed a new yokai to be born, which took part of your memories. But not all. That's why you don't remember much, including your name."

Stas proudly fell silent, then frowned. His interlocutor clearly wasn't listening to the end of his conclusions, remaining frozen in the same pose with her head lowered.

Ordyntsev was about to call out to her, but then he noticed suspiciously trembling shoulders.

'Great,' the man mentally rolled his eyes. 'I've brought a terrible man-eating yokai to tears. That's an accomplishment, dubious though it may be. Of course, right now, she's unlikely to eat me, but leaving things as they are isn't an option either. Time to rectify the situation.'

Attempts to hug a semi-material predatory entity were deemed a foolish and slightly suicidal idea. But verbally, there was still a chance to try.

"Lady," Stas sighed heavily. "I'm not particularly skilled at comforting, but I will say this. Yes, your fate and the fate of the one from whom you were born was hard and tragic. Betrayal by your husband and all those you trusted is truly painful. But despite everything, it didn't break you. At the moment, you still exist and can do things that most living people can't. More so, even spirits can't. So don't mourn what you've lost, but try to look ahead."

Ordyntsev saw how the sobbing stopped at some point during his speech, and the girl started to listen attentively.

"This part of the palace was abandoned after you were born, wasn't it? Roku-san didn't say because he didn't know, but you were even tried to be exorcised by monks from the capital monastery. They have failed, haven't they? People say they ran in fear and terror, abandoning some of their companions. Whatever happened before, now you are a yokai with enough power to decide to live in the palace of the daimyo's son, and no one has been able to expel you..."

"Oh, Shiro-kun. You're really not good at comforting," the yokai girl nodded gratefully, lifting her head. There were understandably no tears on her face, but the expression in her eyes said more than any words about her mood. "But I indeed feel better now. Your words and thoughts allowed me to see myself from the outside, to remember what I somehow forgot. And I value that."

Kuchisake-onna looked seriously at the earthling.

"You've really helped me a lot. Now, I am not constrained by the absence of memory. I'm glad that my feelings didn't mislead me, and you turned out to be exactly the one I was unconsciously looking for. So, if you don't want to continue our conversation, I understand and won't pursue you. You have fully lived up to your mystery, Shiro-kun. I enjoyed your company."

Stas looked intently at the suspiciously quiet yokai, whose eyes were anywhere but on the person sitting in front of her.

A familiar smirk played on the earthling's lips.

"You know, lady, I think I would prefer to stay. Believe me, I would be delighted to learn the answers to a couple of curious questions from you."

End of the first volume.