Volume 1/The Bridal Hairpin

## The Bridal Hairpin

**The Bridal Hairpin** (花嫁簪, *Hanayome Kanzashi*?) is the second chapter of *Hanabishi Fusai no Taima-Chou* Volume 1.

## Summary

Suzuko and Takafuyu are eating at an eel restaurant when the proprietress visits their table. She had previously approached Takafuyu with a request to deal with a ghost who is haunting the outside of her restaurant. The ghost is a Kinzanji miso seller who was killed thirteen years ago. He had been working late nights in order to save up money to buy a hairpin for his daughter, who was about to get married, when he was beaten to death by a drunken government official. Ever since then, people had been able to hear his voice peddling his wares at noon. The proprietress had been content to leave the ghost alone when Takafuyu advised her to help the ghost pass on.

Suzuko sees Awaji no Kimi appearing behind Takafuyu. She quickly rushes to the window and tells the Kinzanji seller that she wants to buy his miso, then borrows a bowl from the restaurant and goes outside. She congratulates him on his daughter's marriage and promises to give her a hairpin for her wedding. The Kinzanji seller thanks her and disappears. Takafuyu follows her outside and explains that the ghost wasn't to Awaji no Kimi's tastes. Since Suzuko gave him peace of mind, he was able to pass on.

A few days later, Takafuyu prepared a hairpin to give to the Kinzanji seller's daughter. They visit a mitsumame restaurant. Takafuyu explains that the Hanabishis' wedding ceremonies are traditionally very small and short, and that they could do it today at the Hanabishi estate if she wants to. Suzuko is suspicious, but preferring a shorter ceremony, agrees to do it after they finished today's business. Takafuyu had already investigated everything about the Kinzanji seller and his daughter, Roku Shioi, as well as where she lives currently.

In front of Roku's house, the two see a female ghost with her head hanging down standing in front of the gate. Takafuyu tells Suzuko to ignore her for now. He introduces himself to Roku and lies that they had found his grandfather's note where he promised to buy a hairpin for the Kinzanji seller's daughter, but died before doing so. Roku is shocked by the high quality of the hairpin and refuses to accept it, but Takafuyu convinces her by telling her to keep it for her daughter when she marries.

After they leave the house, they still see the female ghost standing in front of the gate. A nearby, more demonic looking ghost tells them about her. The female ghost was the wife of the official who killed the Kinzanji seller. She was coming to this house to apologize to his daughter, though she was also beaten by her abusive husband and savaged in the newspapers for being a former geisha. The woman's own daughter jumped off the Asakusa Juunikai after her relationship with her lover was ruined, and the woman herself died from illness. But even so, her ghost continued to go to Roku's house to apologize to her. As the demon woman is talking, Awaji no Kimi appears and eats her. Takafuyu tells Suzuko that the demon woman had lied about the daughter jumping off Asakusa Juunikai (she had actually hung herself), but was otherwise mostly telling the truth. He had learned the facts of the case, including Roku's address, from his reporter friend, and learned the address of the official's wife as well.

The two visit the Yamanote house where the lady lived. The house has never been rented out because of the rumors that it is haunted. Takafuyu asks some nearby women about the history of the house. The official's wife had died soon after her daughter died, and even when she was sick, she refused to die because she had to apologize to the Kinzanji seller's family. The women talk about how the official had worked hard during the day but was an abusive drunk at home. They start talking about how his wife should have left or done more to stop her husband's behavior. Takafuyu indirectly criticizes their attitudes by mentioning another murder case where society blamed the wife and mother of the murderer for his acts. Takafuyu and Suzuko see the woman's ghost again, seemingly on another trip to Roku's house. Takafuyu can tell that the woman is one step away from turning into a demon. Awaji no Kimi appears again and eats the ghost. Suzuko is blocked by Takafuyu from seeing the act, but she can tell that he is saddened by the fact that some ghosts can only be saved by being eaten. He suggests that they go to the Hanabishi estate and start living together after performing the ceremony, but Suzuko refuses to start living with him right away.

At the Hanabishi estate, Takafuyu guides Suzuko through the process of lighting the incense burner. Awaji no Kimi appears in the smoke and Suzuko has to force herself to stay calm. She feels a prick of pain on her ankle. Takafuyu, seeing how frightened she is, apologizes for bringing her into this and embraces her.

After Suzuko leaves, Takafuyu goes to his personal room, embroiled in self-loathing over bringing Suzuko into the Hanabishi family and doubt over whether or not his brother is the killer of her Asakusa family, and how Suzuko would react if she found out he was keeping this from her. He asks the butler, Mikoshiba, to dispose of Saneaki's belongings, but decided not to at the last minute because he worries that the servants, who favored his brother, would tell her about it.

## Characters

* Suzuko Takigawa
* Taka
* Takafuyu Hanabishi
* Eel restaurant proprietress
* Kinzanji seller
* Government official (mentioned)
* Awaji no Kimi
* Government official's wife
* Roku Shioi
* Demon woman
* Government official's daughter (mentioned)
* Shinichirou Yura
* Mikoshiba
* Takami Hanabishi (mentioned)
* Saneaki Hanabishi (mentioned)