Gyomei Himejima.
Himejima.
Master Himejima.
Kaigaku had always thought he had forgotten that name, just as his own filthy past would be washed clean by time and sink to the bottom of everyone's memories.
No one would remember.
No one would remember how, years ago, a child had struck a bargain with a demon to save his own life.
"I'll go back to the Temple and put out the wisteria incense..." the young Kaigaku had whispered, his body trembling.
"And then~?" He could no longer remember what that demon looked like. All he remembered was the nauseating stench pouring off its body.
"Then... there are eight children inside, and only one big, blind monk. They can't fight back."
That's right. Say it just like that. Get it out!
You did nothing wrong, Kaigaku!
"Why did you steal the money?!" The children had cursed him, throwing stones and clods of dirt at him.
"Why did you steal everyone's money?!" They had accused him angrily. They had looked utterly ridiculous.
"Throw him out! Don't let him stay in the Temple anymore! Thieves aren't welcome here!"
The older children had shoved Kaigaku around and driven him out of the Temple.
Those people, those children, deserved to be torn apart!
It was all their fault I ran into a demon!
If they hadn't driven me out, why would I have been wandering around outside at that hour?!
Then the demon had nodded.
Under cover of night, he had sneaked back to the Temple and extinguished the incense.
The demon had charged into the Temple and immediately torn a child apart.
Ha! That's what you get for shoving me.
Kaigaku had smiled with satisfaction and slipped away before the uproar began.
Later, he had learned that almost all the children in the Temple had died.