After me own death, I wandered. I couldn't pass on, I couldn't fit in the world of the dead, that's for sure; and there was a lone clam crying over me corpse, so I was stuck.
So I flew around. I was a weak ghost, I couldn't interact with objects, nor could I possess things, nor was I even visible to the living beyond a mysterious "red light" roaming around the island, which was believed to be some kind of omen. First, the settlers were seemingly on the brink of despair, as they landed on me corpse, not an island; but eventually they pulled through and established the society on me back.
I saw everything, from the new wave of strandees, to the decay of Wadano influence, to the discrimination against yokai, to the countless of local disputes over the land. And during that time, I found mine "ghost ability", I could possess other ghosts, or well, give the edge that allows them to become Onryo. Sure, I wasn't in control of the unfortunate youth, but under me own control they didn't seem conscious and gained some other properties. Some ghosts were actually visible to the human eye, some ghosts were able to control objects, and some were fueled by vengeance from the get go. Of course these shells would be later exterminated by the priests of that island, but it made me feel alive.
And soon, me current shell would arrive. It was a crying priest, shivering in rage and regret.
"Why... Why did they do this to me?... I did what I thought was the best... Oh god... That child..."
It was pathetic, so me approached this young priest.
"Oye, did I hear you crying? For what reason?"
"... I got executed... These bastards... They don't know what they just did... I will kill them!... I will kill them all!"
"Do you want me to assist? I can give you great power."
I pitied the priest. Sure there were countless betrayals over the years, but this one stood out to me. Me could feel the anguish when they were hanged, as they held to the last breath, begging that slob to come down and save them. Plus I could bail out at any time. It looked up at me, frozen in what I can assume fear. Me for one, do not know how I look like, especially after all those years, it hath been over 2000+ years ago. But soon it reached for me and something unexpected happened
I don't know if it was because that priest was from the Wadano clan, or because of some sort of resonance with our collective grudge, or was it some unfortunate accident; but I was fused with them. I didn't know it at the time, but they were one of the strongest Onryo I ever encountered. A grudge so severe that I couldn't exit their ghost body, like I would usually do. That person only wanted one thing - revenge.
And soon what happened had shocked me. This priest had orchestrated a mass hanging of every person who had taken part in their execution. The executioners and witnesses. All died in mysterious "hanging incidents; some were hanged by mundane objects through sheer misfortune, some were directly taken care of by that priest.
"This is what you deserve for condemning me to such fate! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! DIE!!!!! DIE!!!!! DIE!!!!!!! HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE YOUR BREATH SNUFFED AWAY FROM YOU?!?!?!?!" Me thought this horrid incident would lead to investigation, but the decay has made itself clear. Many priests who worshipped the Wadano slob, were killed as well as at the time everyone thought it was the wrath of that "false god". Soon, the real war broke loose due to following drought period. So many people were killed and tortured during this period, including but not limited to children. Such foolish behaviour displayed by everyone, including my priest who was revelling in that bloodshed.
Due to numerous impersonators, the priest became something more than an Onryo... They became an urban legend. While they would be crying at times, regretting all of their decisions, soon enough they will restore back to their vengeful self. But when they became Tatarigami, I was finally able to separate from them. But by then, I forgot how I look, so when I saw a reflection, I saw a priest. I saw the other priest when it was scolding me, telling me to get stronger; so I thought of it as my reflection. Everyone went insane by that point, so I didn't question anything. The point is: I'm them now. We're one in the same.
We're both a curse that this island must bear
And I suppose this is our new fate.