A Japanese ghost story! Fun, scary and romantic all at once -
what a win!

Sorry it took me so long to respond to this because it was FABULOUS! We have plans to go to Japan two years from now, so it was especially appealing to me. Despite the possibility of Yūrei, I want to go even more now!

And I have long wondered how Tanuki fit into the magical world. They're some of my favorite animals and I always imagined that Sirius would appreciate the way they're depicted with... erm... huge testicles. And kitsune get a mention, too? Perfect!

There was a lot to love about this piece, but I really loved this bit: Remus slowly disentangled them now that Sirius was breathing again, but he didn't say anything, leaving Sirius with the mixed desire to both keep babbling and to find someplace to hide. It was a strange ability that Remus possessed, to compel both the desire to behave and to repent even when having done nothing wrong.

And this: Time was a tepid thing, crawling and rushing simultaneously while they looked at anything but each other, not sure where to start.

This was utterly exciting and made me feel good to be alive!