A/N: This is it, my friends. The very last chapter of this crazy little ride. When I first began this over a year ago there was so very little fanfiction for Forest of Drizzling Rain that I was actually able to read it all in a few hours. This is such an awesome little game, (and manga and light novel series and drama CD!), that it deserves a lot more attention than that. My contribution officially classifies as a novel, and I'm hoping it makes the fandom happy. :)

Historian's Note: This story takes place after the completion of the game, following the second ending, 'Vanished Promise.'

Soundtrack: 'A Memory of Rain' on 8tracks

Betas: SkyTurtle & Voice of the Shadow Realm

Disclaimer: I do not own Forest of Drizzling Rain, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

…

A Memory of Rain

Epilogue

…

Many years later.

.

The bus ride from the train into the village was reasonably quiet, as bus rides went. Having grown up in the city, Tsuna was used to a lot of noise when commuting. Chatter, laughter, loud one-sided conversations being held on cell phones, music from handheld game systems or boom boxes; there was next to none of that here. His fellow passengers all appeared far more interested in the views outside their windows.

He had to admit, the scenery was beautiful. Mountains and forests, all much closer than he was accustomed to, occasionally broken up by a small farm or two. This was a province that hadn't received all that much in the way of modern development, and this particular corner had received even less. In a country that sometimes seemed packed from coast to coast with people and paved streets, this area had retained its wild beauty, unfettered by concrete. The few buildings and homes they passed were rustic, made of wood, thatch and paper. It was like stepping back in time.

The bus jostled as it hit a deep pothole in the road. One or two children on the bus squeaked in surprise. Tsuna barely kept from braining himself against the window.

Of course, so much rustic beauty came at the price of rustic conditions. He glanced over at his companion, who was still gazing out with rapt admiration.

"Nagisa, are you sure this was where you wanted to spend our time?"

She blinked and smiled at him. "Of course I'm sure. The marquis on the bus said 'Azakawa Village,' and I doubt there are many of those around here." Her smile widened, making the corners of her eyes crinkle. "In fact there's not much of anything around here."

Tsuna couldn't help but smile back, but he wouldn't allow himself to be distracted. "That's exactly what I mean. Do you really want to vacation here of all places? It's pretty, but it looks like it won't be at all lavish." He glanced out his window again, taking in the dusty road, the sometimes ramshackle homes the bus drove past. "This isn't exactly what I had imagined for our honeymoon."

A hand on his made him look back at his new wife, who was smiling more gently now. "And what did you have in mind for our honeymoon, Tsu-kun?"

"You know what I really wanted," he said with a shrug, warmed and embarrassed by the use of his nickname where others could hear. "A nice long trip to Hawaii. Spend some time on the beach, go hiking in the mountains, maybe see a volcano… Wear grass skirts and eat a boar roasted over an open fire. Start our married life with some adventure."

"And a little bit of the ridiculous," Nagisa pointed out with amusement.

"The best kind of beginning to anything, wouldn't you say?"

Nagisa smiled and shook her head. "It does sound wonderful, but there's no way we could afford that kind of trip."

"My father did offer…"

"No-o." Nagisa's smile disappeared and was traded for a stern look. "One thing we do not need to begin our new life with is debt, not even to family."

Tsuna sighed, and squeezed Nagisa's hand. "Yes, I know. Maybe another year, the second honeymoon?"

The suggestion was met with a nod, and Tsuna filed that away for later. If all went well they could take that second honeymoon within a few years. He would have everything ready and planned for when the time came. In the meantime…

"But why here?" He insisted. "Hawaii is out for now, but surely there were places we could afford more interesting than this."

The smile returned, brighter than ever. "It came very highly recommended by my sister, who spent some time here. She even gave the recommendation for the inn we'll be staying at."

"Well, I suppose that means we can expect good accommodations, at least," Tsuna said ruefully as the bus jounced over more potholes. "What is it called?"

Nagisa had to dig through her purse to find a slip of paper with the name written on it. "The Azakawa Heritage Ryokan. Rin really enjoyed her stay there. Apparently it's run by an old college friend of hers. They were roommates for awhile, until Rin graduated."

"Ah. Does that mean we're eligible for the family and friends discount?"

Nagisa rolled her eyes at him. "I doubt it."

"Alright, so other than being run by an old friend, what makes the place so special?"

She hesitated a minute, tucking the note back safely into her purse. "She said it was a beautiful inn, and it takes the 'heritage' part of its name very seriously. Apparently the building used to be a local museum, and when they converted to a ryokan they kept all of the artifacts and displays, and now they're integrated into the building as decoration and points of interest. Rin wouldn't say exactly what some of it was. She said you had to see it for yourself to really appreciate it."

Tsuna frowned. "So the greatest draw this place has, as a honeymoon spot, is that it will act as a history lesson?"

Nagisa shrugged. "Rin also made it sound like there was something extra that the ryokan did for guests who were interested, but again wouldn't say what exactly." Her smile came back to brighten her face. She motioned out the window, indicating the mountain that grew as they crept closer and closer to its foot. "Besides, it is pretty out here. It may not be fancy, but who needs fancy? We can enjoy anything together, right?"

He nodded, giving in. It wasn't worth beginning their honeymoon on a sour note to persist in the matter. But he did privately hope that there would be more to this place than trees.

…

When they reached their destination, Tsuna had to admit that the approach to the ryokan was impressive. It was obvious that it had not begun its life as a ryokan, and had undergone some renovations to look as it did now. The central mass of the building still showed some signs of western influence, but it was impressive all the same. Simple gardens and landscaping bordered the short walk to the front door, as did a few tōrō lanterns. As they passed by one of these, Tsuna paused and took a closer look. Rather than having anything to light at night, the inside was filled with what looked like crystals, but which were emitting a soft, blue light.

He called Nagisa back and pointed the oddity out. She looked startled.

"Kind of a weird detail," he commented. "Think this is one of those things Rin thought we had to see instead of be told about?"

Nagisa shrugged. "I don't know. I suppose it could be. It seems a little wasteful, though, to have lights like this switched on during the day."

Inside they were met by a young woman. She wore a traditional kimono and obi, and her dark hair was piled up atop her head and held in place with long pins. She smiled a welcome as they came in and bowed. "Welcome to the Azakawa Heritage Ryokan. May your stay be a pleasant one." As she straightened Tsuna noticed that the pins in her hair were fashioned to look like flower blossoms on long stems, and it looked like they were made of the same crystal as was in the tōrō lanterns. She introduced herself as Sakuma Miyako and began the process of signing them in.

Reminded by the girl's pins, Tsuna cleared his throat once they were registered. "I don't know if you are aware, but the lanterns outside are on."

Sakuma looked blank for a moment, her smile questioning. "I'm sorry?"

"The lanterns." He pointed back outside the door as explanation. "They're glowing even though it's light out. You might want to switch them off."

"Oh, I see." She nodded. "I'm afraid we can't turn those off. They're not electric, you see."

"Really?" Nagisa piped up. "Then… how are they glowing?"

The girl's eyes shone at the question. Either this was a wind up to something the ryokan offered at an extra fee, or it was something she personally felt passionate about. "As to the 'how' no one is really sure, and there have been several geologists who have tried to figure it out. But you see," she reached up to her head, and somehow without disturbing her hair, removed one of the pins. "The stone glows without any aid of electricity."

And indeed, the hairpin she held out for them to inspect was made out of a white-blue crystal, its delicate length casting a gentle glow in her cupped hands.

They stared in fascination. Tsuna wanted to pick it up out of the receptionist's hands and examine it, but restrained himself. When the girl began to speak again it was in a very soft voice, making them both of them lean closer unconsciously.

"It's called the night glowstone, and thus far can only be found here, in our mountains. Many mysterious properties are attributed to this stone, and it had played a vital role in the history of our village."

"What sort of mysterious properties?" Without realizing it, Tsuna matched the girl's soft tone. The subtle facets of the hairpin were mesmerizing. It felt like being pulled out to sea by a gentle tide.

"The purification of evil spirits, and wards against the same. Some say that in skilled hands the stone is even capable of altering memory." The hairpin turned in the girl's hands, catching the light and shattering it to fragments. "Only a handful of people have ever been allowed the honor of working with this extraordinary stone, all of them residents of Azakawa, and so accessories such as this are scarce."

"And you're wearing some of it in your hair?"

Nagisa's question broke the spell the pin had on him, and he looked up in time to see Sakuma smile. Leaning in so close to catch her words, he noticed a thin, straight scar marring the girl's right cheek. He wondered where it came from. "You'll find quite a few glowstone artifacts and accessories during your stay here. The majority of those honored few who could work the stone were of the Kanzaki line. Before becoming a ryokan, this building was a museum, and before that it was the home of the Kanzaki family for generations." Her smile widened. "The owners and managers of this ryokan are Koutarou Suga and Shiori, who was Kanzaki before her marriage. They are the last of those fully trained to work with glowstone, and have only one apprentice."

"Their child?" Tsuna guessed.

Sakuma shook her head. "No, they are both still too young. I am their apprentice."

Tsuna stared, and Nagisa glanced back down at the hairpin. "Does that mean that you made this?"

The girl nodded, looking very proud of herself. Tsuna could understand why. If this was the level of skill she had as an apprentice, then who knew what could be expected once she graduated?

"So how did the glowstone play a part in the village's history?" Tsuna asked as the pin was stabbed back into her hair.

"Ah, as to that, you will find in your room a book that outlines some of the more interesting points of Azakawa's past, including the glowstone, the Kanzaki family, and how they both played their roles. If you have any more questions after reading, I, the managers or any of the staff will be happy to answer them for you. Which reminds me…" she slipped a small pamphlet onto the counter. "Would you be interested in taking one of our spirit tours?"

…

They were a week into their two week honeymoon, and Tsuna was willing to say now that Nagisa's sister had made a good recommendation. If he had known that this village was setting itself up as one of the most haunted locations in Japan, he would have been a lot less grumpy on the journey.

Tsuna loved anything to do with the supernatural, and this place practically oozed with it: Ghosts and ogres and missing kids, and even a hereditary village hero, the 'Ogami-san' to protect the village from the spirits in the forest. He found it a little amusing that Sakuma, the receptionist, was supposedly training to become the next Ogami-san, though the title for all practicalities seemed to be a title only nowadays.

But it was interesting, especially that the continuity of those in the legends and myths that were posted up around the ryokan had continued unbroken to the present day. Certainly Sakuma and the managers, the Koutarou couple bought into it completely, and sold it just as whole heartedly. Tsuna and Nagisa had read the book they had been provided from start to finish and had followed up with several questions that evening at dinner. It was then they met their hosts, who had been more than willing to share even more detailed tales. Shiori had done the majority of the talking, though on some points her husband Suga was more knowledgeable and took over. It always seemed to be on the especially creepy parts when he was the one telling the tales, which were only heightened by his own creepy demeanor. Tsuna meant no offense, but the guy gave him the shivers. Maybe it was the eyes.

Nagisa thought he was sweet looking, which Tsuna didn't understand at all, and might have felt a twinge of jealousy over if it weren't so obvious how completely committed the man was to his wife. That was sweet, to see two people so dedicated and in love. It was almost like they were still on their own honeymoon, though the two children they had said otherwise.

Tsuna smiled at the thought of the kids. He would have thought having a couple of children running around would put a huge dampener on their honeymoon, but the Koutarou children were remarkably quiet. Keiichi, the boy and older of the two, was a little louder than his sister Kaoru, but Kaoru was so silent she could practically blend in with the wallpaper. They were well behaved for children aged four and three, and both good little monsters when the occasion called for it.

He and Nagisa had taken the spirit tour, along with a handful of other guests. The first part of the tour was of the ryokan itself, where they were shown the collection of artifacts pertaining to spirit activity. There had been a lot of old glowstone accessories once worn by the children of Azakawa to protect them from the local evil spirit, the Kotori Obake, and a more in depth telling of the legends. Then they had been led outside, behind the ryokan and into the woods.

It had been early evening rather than night when they went out, but once beneath the trees the darkness was suddenly much deeper and closer than before. They were each equipped with a small flashlight, instructed to keep close together, and followed Koutarou Suga into the woods as his wife brought up the rear, making sure no one strayed. Tsuna was fairly certain he wasn't the only one alarmed when he saw their host was not only carrying a lantern that glowed blue with stones, but also had a long katana at his hip. He was only mildly reassured when they were shown that it was also made of night glowstone, though Nagisa had gasped in appreciation of the craftsmanship. When asked, Suga-san admitted to crafting the blade himself. Tsuna had asked, quietly so Suga-san wouldn't hear, if he actually knew how to use the sword. Shiori-san had smiled at his question and told him yes, he was very good at battō-jutsu, and practiced every morning.

As they had walked deeper into the woods, Suga-san pointed out landmarks, explaining their significance. They passed huge boulders of night glowstone, some shining, some gone dark, their supposed spiritual power completely drained. They went to a lake in the forest that had probably once been very pretty, with large cherry trees around it and a little dock. This, Suga-san said, had been where the woman who became the Kotori Obake had committed suicide, dooming herself to becoming an evil spirit. From there they had been taken to the caves, which were blacker than pitch and echoed their every step. There they were told the gruesome history of Azakawa's ancient justice system, which had been brutal to say the least. Even Tsuna had felt the shivers crawl up his spine as he listened to the details of the Kotori Obake's life before death.

And then Keiichi and Kaoru, led by Sakuma, had stepped out of the shadows. The children had been dressed to resemble spirits that had perished in the cave prison or at the hands of the Kotori Obake, while Sakuma had been the Kotori Obake herself.

It had been a good evening in Tsuna's book. And the appearance of the children had explained why it wasn't a midnight tour.

Really, the whole trip had been good. The ryokan was a nice place to stay. It was quiet, the sense of history worked into every hall was oddly comforting, the surroundings were beautiful… even the food was good. There might not be much to see, but he thought the peace of mind achieved over a single week more than made up for it.

Tsuna sighed with contentment, drinking the tea provided by the ryokan. He had no idea what it was, but it tasted nice and warmed him to his toes. It was drizzling very lightly today, and it was pleasant to just stand out on their little private porch, looking out over the ryokan's back garden and listen.

Behind him he heard Nagisa step through the door. When she came into view she was also holding a cup of tea. "Do you know," she said eventually. "I don't think I will ever get over how pretty those flowers are."

Tsuna nodded, knowing which ones she meant.

"I wish the night glowstone weren't so rare," she sighed. "I would love to take them home with us, have a little bowl of glowing flowers forever."

"Yeah."

Silence went on between them for some time before Nagisa stirred again. "I got to talking with Sakuma last night. I was curious with all these ghost legends around why they weren't more concerned about taking Keiichi and Kaoru into the forest and thought she would know."

Tsuna nodded. Sakuma was an encyclopedia of local history, rivaling the managers in the depth of her knowledge.

"At first she just said that everyone was careful and always wore a bit of glowstone like in the old days, but I could tell there was more, so I kept on her."

"Yeah?" He looked over at her. Her hair was still tousled from sleep, but she looked as beautiful as she ever did. He smiled. "What did you get out of her?"

Nagisa brushed hair out of her face. "A whole new part of the story, actually. One they don't tell to everyone."

"Ooh, tell, tell."

She settled herself against the railing. "Well, we were all told about the Azakawa prison system, and how a man who wanted this one woman falsely accused her husband so she would end up inside where he could reach her. That's how the Kotori Obake was first created."

"Yeah…"

"According to Sakuma-chan, that man was a Kanzaki, and the very first Ogami-san was also a Kanzaki, possibly even the son of the first."

Tsuna's eyebrows rose to his hair. "Yikes. But what does that have to do with…?"

"I'm getting to that. Many, many generations later, maybe only a generation back, the Kotori Obake made a promise with one of the Kanzaki children. She was saved from the spirit by a friend of hers, who sacrificed his voice so she wouldn't be taken until much later. To keep her safe, her memories were repressed and she moved far away. Her friend stayed here and became the Ogami-san to keep her safe. Years later she came back, looking for members of her family, and found her friend instead. She didn't remember him, but he remembered her, and tried to make her leave. She didn't, and somehow she got her memories back and was caught by the Kotori Obake before she could leave. Her friend rescued her again, and the two of them purified the spirit." She shrugged. "And that's why they don't worry about the kids. The Kotori Obake has already been purified."

Tsuna thought for a minute. "Seems a little anticlimactic to me."

"Sakuma-chan told it better. Besides," she raised an eyebrow at him, "I think it's romantic."

He chuckled. "Of course you do, honey." He leaned forward and kissed her.

…

At the end of two weeks, Tsuna and Nagisa were ready to leave the ryokan. They'd said their goodbyes to the managers and their kids and to Sakuma, and were just heading out the door and down the stairs when Nagisa stopped and made Tsuna come back to look at something carved into one of the porch posts.

It was an ai-ai gasa, a simple umbrella with two names written beneath its canopy:

Suga-kun and Shii-chan.

…

A/N2: Complete and utter fluff for your epilogue, my friends. I have it in mind that since it's summer (or thereabouts) that Sakuma is helping out at the ryokan until her college classes pick up again. And of course Suga carves flowers out of glowstone.

Battō-jutsu: A sword art practiced for practicality rather than sport or spiritual purposes.

Ai-ai gasa: Literally translated it means 'love love umbrella,' and is as simple as it sounds. The North American equivalent is the tradition of carving or writing the initials of two sweethearts inside a simple heart outline. I just love how this particular tradition includes an umbrella. :)

Alright, everyone. That's it. We're all done.

Thank you for reading, and if you haven't yet, go play the game!