Written by DarkEclipic and sunsetskies_
Proofread by RexLobo
The Forest of the Ochiba is known for its mysterious and dangerous nature. With Cults, wildlife, and most often, Spirits. Karakurans are no stranger to the supernatural within these woods. Nestled in the back corner of the forest, next to Shotengai and the Shrine, lies a lone cabin with several graves surrounding it. Local researchers have investigated the area, but only one researcher, going by the codename Clover, found a set of old cassette tapes buried around the run-down cabin’s foundation. The box that contained the tapes was locked. The numbers were systematically placed around the Ochiba Forest in an unconventional method.
After some research, Clover found an old blogging website that was taken down due to mysterious reasons. The blogger in question, Natsume Fuiji, a 17-year-old female from Tokyo, was known to the online world as ‘Japan’s youngest urban explorer’. It has been said that the blogs she made date back to when she was around twelve years old. Natsume, or Sumi as some of her fans would call her, had visited many haunted places around Japan and conducted ‘reports’ on these locations to claim their authenticity. From abandoned buildings to haunted forests, Sumi had visited every single one of them. Until one of her followers sent her a box containing some information about the ‘haunted Yasukōchi Cabin’ in the Ochiba Forest. Intrigued, she made her next blog postings revolving around this cabin. Below is the first entry to her ‘The Izu Chronicles’.
After some research, Clover found an old blogging website that was taken down due to mysterious reasons. The blogger in question, Natsume Fuiji, a 17-year-old female from Tokyo, was known to the online world as ‘Japan’s youngest urban explorer’. It has been said that the blogs she made date back to when she was around twelve years old. Natsume, or Sumi as some of her fans would call her, had visited many haunted places around Japan and conducted ‘reports’ on these locations to claim their authenticity. From abandoned buildings to haunted forests, Sumi had visited every single one of them. Until one of her followers sent her a box containing some information about the ‘haunted Yasukōchi Cabin’ in the Ochiba Forest. Intrigued, she made her next blog postings revolving around this cabin. Below is the first entry to her ‘The Izu Chronicles’.
‘Hello Ghosts, Ghouls, and Non-Etherial beings. It’s your Spooky Researcher, Sumi, coming back to you again with some EXCITING NEWS! Word has spread to me that off the coast of the Tokyo Prefecture, on the Island is Karakura, there has been some spoooooky sightings! A fan of mine sent in some information that could be used for something excittingggg! Let’s get ready together for the month of October!’
‘I am thinking on calling this series of events, ‘The Izu Chronicles’, as it is happening on Izu-Karakura! Quite fitting right? Any howzers! I will keep you all updated here with my travels! Much Love!’
‘I am thinking on calling this series of events, ‘The Izu Chronicles’, as it is happening on Izu-Karakura! Quite fitting right? Any howzers! I will keep you all updated here with my travels! Much Love!’
At first glance, and to many of her followers' glance, this seemed like the same Sumi that had been posting for years about reports she had gotten and investigated. But on the tapes and following the trail of the blog posts, things slowly took a turn for the worse.
During the first few days of October, Sumi had started her updates within her post. Checking in with her fans, giving them updates on whether she made it to the Izu unharmed, while keeping her location where she was staying private. The next ‘big’ post would come around October 5th of 1999
During the first few days of October, Sumi had started her updates within her post. Checking in with her fans, giving them updates on whether she made it to the Izu unharmed, while keeping her location where she was staying private. The next ‘big’ post would come around October 5th of 1999
‘This is the FIRST official update on the ‘haunted cabin’ here in the Karakura City, yay! While asking around town, the cabin used to be owned by a lone man who worked as a nature expert in Karakura City. No name was given to me, but I am sure we will be able to find out something!’
‘As for the cabin itself, it is rundown and in shambles. Not many people know where the man had vanished to throughout the years here in The City. But, I am sure we will be able to find out! There has been a lovely girl showing me around the general area of the cabin. She looked around my age! Which is lovely to find! She was telling me some of the history of the cabin and especially the graves. She had told me that each grave was connected to someone important to the man’s ‘family’. I am assuming like family friends or uber close family members!’
‘As for the cabin itself, it is rundown and in shambles. Not many people know where the man had vanished to throughout the years here in The City. But, I am sure we will be able to find out! There has been a lovely girl showing me around the general area of the cabin. She looked around my age! Which is lovely to find! She was telling me some of the history of the cabin and especially the graves. She had told me that each grave was connected to someone important to the man’s ‘family’. I am assuming like family friends or uber close family members!’
Throughout the next few weeks, her blog would rack up viewership and new followers to Sumi’s already large following. It wasn’t until closer to the end of October where Sumi started to encounter strange occurrences that happened around the cabin.
‘As per a fans request and them paying a large amount of money! I will be staying in the cabin over the next couple of weeks! I already had it cleared with the proper channels. This is the time to see if this place really IS haunted. The girl from before, Haneyama, had suggested she stayed with me! Wasn’t that lovely? I am glad that she would be joining us in this adventure!’
‘Small update: The forest gets real cold at night.. Haneyama says that she feels completely fine but for some reason, I am freezing to the bone.. It could just be in my head, the nerves and all!’
‘Small update: The forest gets real cold at night.. Haneyama says that she feels completely fine but for some reason, I am freezing to the bone.. It could just be in my head, the nerves and all!’
Glancing over the next few blogs, they were basic stuff. Kids trying to pull pranks on Sumi and Haneyama. Haneyama vanishing from time to time but reappearing during the late afternoon or evening times, and just normal jeeps and creeps around the forest at night. During this time, the first casettape would be made by Sumi herself.
[ Translation of the tape to text by Clover ]
Her voice would be quiet, and tremors within her voice could be heard as she spoke.
‘I keep hearing the leaves outside moving around from the bushes.. Haneyama claims they are just animals roaming around as they do but. . .it sounds to. . .human? You could say. Sometimes, if you listen hard enough, the sound of a steel axe hitting a tree could be heard. It must just be my imagination, I have experienced way worse on outings than this! It’s just in my head!’
[ Translation Ended ]
The next few tapes were similar to this one, but with growing worry and anxiety in her voice. Through the front half of November, Sumi had only given small updates for her fans and nothing majorly alarming. Until a post that caused her entire fanbase to grow worrisome. Doing some research on it, there had only needed screenshots taken of the page before the posts removal from the blogging site.
[ Translation of the tape to text by Clover ]
Her voice would be quiet, and tremors within her voice could be heard as she spoke.
‘I keep hearing the leaves outside moving around from the bushes.. Haneyama claims they are just animals roaming around as they do but. . .it sounds to. . .human? You could say. Sometimes, if you listen hard enough, the sound of a steel axe hitting a tree could be heard. It must just be my imagination, I have experienced way worse on outings than this! It’s just in my head!’
[ Translation Ended ]
The next few tapes were similar to this one, but with growing worry and anxiety in her voice. Through the front half of November, Sumi had only given small updates for her fans and nothing majorly alarming. Until a post that caused her entire fanbase to grow worrisome. Doing some research on it, there had only needed screenshots taken of the page before the posts removal from the blogging site.
‘It won't stop humming. . every night, right before I sleep. I keep hearing faint humming along wit the thudding of an axe. It’s only grown louder since I first arrived. Haneyama visits less and less these days, saying ‘He’ is coming. I don’t know what that means, she refuses to comment on it. . .muttering about her looks and how she would constantly use my brush to brush through her hair. I.. I don’t know what to do anymore… I.. I need to go, something isn’t right here.’
From there on, her posts went unanswered. No updates, No replies. She, simply, vanished without a trace. Only the tapes remained, the tapes that tell the rest of the story and soon, about what happened to Sumi.
[ Translation of the tape to text by Clover ]
Sumi would be breathing hard into the microphone, as leaves rustling could be heard around her
‘I can’t escape.. I need help.. This forest won’t let me leave. I try running towards the Shopping District, but every time I run. It seems to get further and further away, or that I get turned in circles back to the cabin.. Haneyama keeps muttering about if she was pretty, refusing to look at me most nights. The axe chopping is ever closer now.. It.. it comes closer each night. I.. I am lost, I need help.. Please.. Someone. Help me.’
[ Translation Ended ]
Over the next several days, The police of Tokyo and Karkaura City would finally look over the several reports about Natsume being missing at the Yasukōchi Cabin. Searching around, they would find buried clothing at one of the graves closest to the door of the cabin. Red specs were found on a jacket, so the officials would take the clothing to the hospital to get it checked. It was found that the blood did belong to Natsume Fuiji, the blogger. Upon investigating the area further, mainly the graves, more ‘mementos’ could be found buried.
Some of the items that were found and listed were the following from the Police Report: A Music Box that played a haunted melody, Natsume Fuiji’s Jacket, a faded hairbrush, and a pair of shoes. It is unknown how many more items the police uncovered in those graves, but those were put in the official report about the cabin. On the side of the cabin was a small spade that had been used for gardening, with the metal had dirt clumps on it. Signifying that it had been used recently. Taking it into evidence, the police found the prints of a man who was already known to the police for his several arrests. His name was not released to the public, and the man has yet to be found. Making the case has been ongoing since early January of 2000.
Tapes would appear around Karakura City, as a scavenger hunt to those who wish to learn more knowledge. With the phrase, “Of Roses and Clovers.” written nearby these scattered tapes.
[ Translation of the tape to text by Clover ]
Sumi would be breathing hard into the microphone, as leaves rustling could be heard around her
‘I can’t escape.. I need help.. This forest won’t let me leave. I try running towards the Shopping District, but every time I run. It seems to get further and further away, or that I get turned in circles back to the cabin.. Haneyama keeps muttering about if she was pretty, refusing to look at me most nights. The axe chopping is ever closer now.. It.. it comes closer each night. I.. I am lost, I need help.. Please.. Someone. Help me.’
[ Translation Ended ]
Over the next several days, The police of Tokyo and Karkaura City would finally look over the several reports about Natsume being missing at the Yasukōchi Cabin. Searching around, they would find buried clothing at one of the graves closest to the door of the cabin. Red specs were found on a jacket, so the officials would take the clothing to the hospital to get it checked. It was found that the blood did belong to Natsume Fuiji, the blogger. Upon investigating the area further, mainly the graves, more ‘mementos’ could be found buried.
Some of the items that were found and listed were the following from the Police Report: A Music Box that played a haunted melody, Natsume Fuiji’s Jacket, a faded hairbrush, and a pair of shoes. It is unknown how many more items the police uncovered in those graves, but those were put in the official report about the cabin. On the side of the cabin was a small spade that had been used for gardening, with the metal had dirt clumps on it. Signifying that it had been used recently. Taking it into evidence, the police found the prints of a man who was already known to the police for his several arrests. His name was not released to the public, and the man has yet to be found. Making the case has been ongoing since early January of 2000.
Tapes would appear around Karakura City, as a scavenger hunt to those who wish to learn more knowledge. With the phrase, “Of Roses and Clovers.” written nearby these scattered tapes.