Tokyo Ravens - Volume 6 - Chapter 1.1

Chapter 1 - Under the Rainy Season's Overcast Sky 
"The essence of sorcery is lies." 
"That's why it is said that when one person is cursed, two graves are dug" 
-Ashiya Douman 

Part 1 
It was night. 
Outside, it was raining lightly. One could also hear the pitter-pattering sound of the rain from the inside of the room. 
At the top-most floor inside a high-class apartment in the Tokyo capital, several rooms and attics were linked together, forming a labyrinth of open space. Junk objects were laid all around, giving it a chaotic appearance. 
Large segments of the windows were tightly shut. The light from an antique lamp mixed together with the surrounding ambient light to give off a warning-light kind of intensity, throbbing on and off. The irregularity of the flashing light created a sense of illusion, unknowingly affecting the five senses and gradually sending them into disarray. A damp musty odor filled the stale air, however at the same time, slight traces of a delicate fragrance drifted through as well. This weird space, filled with demonic confusing energies made one forget about the passage of time. 
A man walked along the room corridor, creating soft footsteps. 
Under the flashing lights, his short golden hair and face with many distinct edges and corners could be seen. He wore a casual, neat western suit without a tie. The man’s walking posture was as if he were an ancient king reviewing the labyrinth that would become his own tomb. 
A lantern’s flame was flickering at the man’s feet, his shadow moving erratically across the ceiling of the room. A small headed lizard crawled along the wall. 
The room was not only simply intricate, but it was also shielded with many heavy magic, thus changing it both physically and magically into a labyrinth. The man stopped walking several times; he showed a troubled expression, however it did not have the feeling of confusion. Up till the last moment, he did not take the wrong route, coming to his target’s side. 
This target was in the deepest part of the labyrinth, inside a small study. 
The walls and ceiling of the study room were covered in bookshelves; there were numerous tightly-packed piles of old books and files, exotic paintings and incense, and other items of unknown purposes. Opened books and book boxes, discarded Japanese paper, and ink dried pens were scattered on the tatami mat. There was even a table lying horizontally on the floor. 
That was the entire decadent study. 
Suddenly, in front of the altar, 
Sat a small old man, his back facing the door. 
The room had no illumination; there was only the light which came from the outside corridor. The man obscured the light, leaning his elbow against the door frame, spying into the study. His right arm was leaning against the door frame; the left sleeve of the suit was dangling freely from the upper arm onwards. 
The man faced the old man’s back. 
“Doman”, he spoke with a rough voice. 
The old man did not turn his head. 
“Is that you?” he replied with a young voice, in contrast with his appearance. 
“I heard from your shikigami that you are about to make your move.” 
Hearing the man’s simple question, the old man clicked his tongue. 
“What are you talking about.” 
“You can no longer wait can you?” 
“What? Art thou actually concerned as well?” 
“Answer my question”, replied the man coldly. 
From the man’s sturdy body, a sound was emitted that bore no emotion; however it gradually transformed from a plain force into a compelling one while losing the wild atmosphere, and at the same time, exuding the suppressed aura of terror of a still lion. 

“Ke- ke”, laughed the old man. 
“My objective lies elsewhere. Well, it doesn’t deserve your worry.” 
The old man pleasantly changed the subject, with no intention of sending him away, continuing with his work on the table. The man’s line of sight drifted towards the old man’s hands. 
The old man used a pen to write something on a paper. They were incantations. The way he carried himself did not give off the feeling of a ceremony; instead, it looked like someone who was elatedly preparing some kind of mischief. The man twisted his lips in distress. 
His gaze moved away from the old man’s hand towards the altar – which had items that did not match the surrounding decor. 
A large rectangular object. 
Then, 
“But, which direction is the wind currently blowing [1] ? What reason made you have a change of heart?” 
“Change of heart? It was the shikigami you mentioned earlier. Because that rascal went to jump the gun. If I'm not careful, the choicest part will be taken by others. 
“What do you mean by jump the gun? Hold your horses and explain yourself.” 
“Wouldn’t that be too boring?” 
“Come again?” 
The man frowned in annoyance. With his back facing the man, the old man should not have been able to see that expression, but his back shook with laughter. 
“Doing these things would be enough to relieve this old man’s boredom. That rascal’s wit has been rather stimulating. Damn that thrilling fellow. It is the only cure to save me from my eternal boredom.” 
“Thrill, eh.” 
The man muttered self-deprecatingly. He clearly knew about the old man’s horrible interests and how troublesome they were, but his counterpart was not the kind to listen to the opinion of another. Furthermore, these two people were not in a relationship where they would mutually advise each other. 
“Correct. This is a rare opportunity. I shall give you some stimulation. 'Higekiri' has appeared”, informed the old man triumphantly. 
The man snorted. 
“......It doesn’t matter” 
“Ah?” 
The old man finally halted his work at hand, turning his head, he looked over his shoulder at the man. 
“A cold-hearted man as always. This old man has wondered since back then, what dost thou do for fun?” 
“Unfortunately, I do not seek such stimulation to live.” 
After giving his answer, the man left the door frame. 
The old man’s face was revealed by the light entering the study. It was full of wrinkles, a mummified face that was rigid like a dead person, revealing no emotions. It was a stark contrast to hearing his young voice, which felt extremely rich. 
“Oh? Then why do you continue to live? Will you wander aimlessly in the dark before falling into the demonic path?” 
Hearing the old man’s question, the backlit man shrugged his shoulders. 
“......For what reason does a person live? I live therefore to find that answer.” 
After that response, he turned his heel, like he had lost interest. 
The man went back into the hallway; his footsteps could be heard once again. The old man watched the silhouette of the man’s back leave, before continuing with his previous work awhile later. 
It was night. 
The ever present sound of the falling rain continued without end.