Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The forest is dark and slightly quiet. A traveler walked through the woods. Crunchy steps against the forest's lifeless leaves. He's is making good progress on his travel. He will be in the next city in less than a day from now, just in time for his delivery.

He passed by a lot of locations to find what he had just now in a sack, that he carried on his back.

A treasure. Worth a lot of money. A perfect gift. A bit damaged because it was resisting. He had to give it a good hit and it was out cold. Shouldn't be too much damage. Just enough to make it sleep.

It was worth it. He's going to be rich. It was young, frail, beautiful and ......ripe.

A perfect gift for a -

Crunch

He stops.

Stops and listens. 

No sound. Quiet. 

The only thing he can hear is his breathing, the cicadas, the owls......

A faint feeling that somebody is watching him.

Probably an animal.

He resumes walking. Humming a tune.

Flutter... flutter...

He stops. It's just a bird.

He listens.The only thing he can hear is his breathing, the cicadas, the owls.....

Tap......tap......

He stops again. What was that?

Maybe an animal again.

The only thing he can hear is his breathing, the cicadas, the owls.....

Tap......tap....tap...tap..

He stops again. It's getting on his nerves. He listens again but he doesn't stop walking. He is loosing precious time. 

The only thing he can hear is his breathing, the cicad- 

Wait. It's quiet. No cicadas, no owls. Just himself.

He stops. Afraid this time than annoyed. Still no sound. He listens again.  

The only thing he can hear is his breathing. 

No cicadas, no owls....... and the faint sound of steps. Fast steps. Running steps. They get faster and faster. Almost too fast.

Tap......tap....tap...tap..taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptapt- 

He runs but it's too late. Too late for him. The only thing he can hear, is his cut off scream.

The forest is quiet now. No cicadas, no owls and no breathing. Just the opening sound of the heavy sack and the treasures faint sighs. Still sleeping. Unaware ever being carried by someone, now by something new.

The treasure wakes up. The blinding light. It is near the river again, where it met the man. It's head hurt and then it heard something.

The sound of relief. Of happy tears. It's her parents.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Several soldiers were dispatched on the forest near the river, where the girl was found. After the girls statement about her kidnapper, the culprit was suspected to be a trafficker.

After a long day, the troupe dispatched to the north of the forest, grew tired. 

It takes too long, says one.

He shouldn't be that far, says another.

Munch.....munch....munch.....

A weird sound.

They stepped closer and closer to the sounds location.

With katanas drawn they stepped closer. Then they smelled it.

Putrid. Disgusting. Mettalic. Rotting.

Then they saw an animal. A wolf. A wolf eating. A wolf eating something. A wolf eating meat. A wolf eating a corpse. The corpse of the kidnapper. Or rather a clump of rotten flesh.

There was only the torso, missing it's top half of the ribcage, right shoulder and neck discarded to the right. The half of the head rolled away a few meters back. 

It looked like someone.....something.....took a bite of him. And spit it back out.

Something big. 

Something that is not an animal. 

The gras was red. No green. The wolf is ignoring them, continuing its feast.

/////////////////////////////

The news traveled fast. A beast in the forest tears appart the kidnapper. Another beast in another region yet again.

Not the first time it has happened. 

Similar occurrences started happening for the past 3 years. Each time multiple corpses have been found in different places. Sometimes the same place after a time has passed. It's still out there somewhere. It's the same brutality, the same bite. It indicates, that it is one yokai or multiple yokais of the same spieces. How did the girl end up back by the river from the sack of her kidnapper is a mystery. A theory is that someone came to the scene directly after the attack, took the girl and brought her back. Another theory was the yokai itself brought the girl back. According to witnesses, it is very fast and agile and has done that before. 

It was therefore named Hashiru hōrō-sha, the Running Wanderer.

Spirit mediums and priest were send to the locations, to maybe track down the yokai and capture it. It might be very useful for the empire to have its power. But everytime they think they got a lead, it disappears just as fast. Almost as if it disappeared in thin air. 

Seiko Ayase, a powerful spirit medium, who does not look like her age at all, was sent to the forests location to track it down and identify the kind of the yokai, herself refusing to capture it and instead exorcise it. The huge bite, the victim being a girl and the fast speed. It all points to the infamous 393 ri per hour hag. 

The yokai was infamous for causing trouble for passer-bys, even death, with her speed. Lose a race against the granny and you end up cursed. The yokai primarily targets evildoers who commit crimes against women. Pretty admirable, she thinks. She is alway there when tragedies struck. 

There. Found the identity. It should have been this easy to deduct. However there is one problem. Several problems.

The forest ist free from cursed aura. It was a clean forest, no one died in there before, so no cursed aura, no creation of a yokai, no sings of a spirit unable to pass on and with therefore no reason for The Hag to be here. 

Another problem. The granny is notorious for biting the mens manhood off. The guy was bitten in three pieces. Dick still intact. 

It was something else. A new yokai, since she has never seen something like this before. A wandering yokai. Defeated, Seiko reported to the soldiers, that the creature must be a new unknown yokai. It's has no pattern and no way to tell where it will go next.

It was ultimately decided to patrol each forest to get hints when it strikes again. The priests were instructed to accompany the patrol in case of an encounter.

With that Seiko went home to Kamigoe, a few hours away. It was past midnight. Her granddaughter should be asleep by now. People still can't believe she has a granddaughter already. She does not look like she is 80 years old.

Arriving at her shrine, she checked the talisman on the tori gate leading to her property. Still there. Feeling relieved she went inside her house. At the entrance she sees her granddaughters Geta and those of someone else. She hopes it's not that guy again.

The first thing she heard was a commotion. And screams. Of her granddaughter. Upstairs.

She has her trusty wooden pencil bat. Nessei was its name. She runs up the stairs to her granddaughters bedroom. 

Opening the door with the finnese of a raging bull and saw momo on the bed being held down. By her boyfriend. Her simple pink yukata loose in some places, herself struggling against his hold, screaming him to stop. Seiko wasted no time and swung her trusted friend Nessie against the back of this 10 year old in a teens body's head, knocking him out instantly. Almost breaking his neck. He feel forward on her granddaughter, who immediately shoved him off of her and practically jumping in her grandmother's arms. 

Seiko holding her close, petting her auburn hair, reassuring her that everything is going to be okay, she takes a look good look at this guy. Momo, her granddaughter, had admittedly terrible taste in men. Where did she find this guy again? He doesn't even look like the legendary Samurai Ken Takakura at all, despite Momos insistence. 

Momo told her what happened. He wanted to do the deed, she didn't, the had a small brawl, she tried to kick him, he caught her and hit her back and pushed her on the bed .

Parting from each other Seiko contemplated throwing him in the watered rice fields face down, to drown. But she does not want to be convicted. So they decide to carry him out of their property and left him far down the dirt road. 

Nobody cared anyway.

Seiko also did not fail to scold her granddaughter, because she ignored her warning about such guys. Momo just listened, hanging her head in shame.

What an eventful night...

///////////////////////////////

He was exhausted. He wandered in the forest searching for a river. Everything hurt so much. 

His legs hurt.

His body hurt.

His face hurt.

Especially his jaw.

It felt like he bit on a boulder. Hard.

Luckily his glasses were still intact.

How? He has no idea.

He stopped by a river. Finally. Finally he can get clean. His clothes were heavy and wet, it clung to his skin. He skipped like a happy child towards the river, discarding his bag in the process. He needs to wash this one too. Good thing it was black fabric. He himself primarily wears black. The stains won't be that noticeable.

 He could pass it off as a water stain.

He took his short ripped kimono and loose pants off and got in the water. Almost his entire body was covered in that stain. He however was indifferent to it. It has happened before and it will happen again.

Good thing his grandmother insisted on him carrying multiple pairs of clothes, at least three, with him. In case something like this happens again. 

He needs to visit her again sometime.

He needs to get her a present as well. She deserves it.

She trained him.

Fed him.

Loved him. 

More than his own birth giver ever could. 

He looked at his hands.

Ah....

Having these thoughts again.....

Bad, bad thoughts. He was already in the water, it was up to his hips, so what if he just sat down. To relax. His legs and feet hurt after all. So he sat down. A bit deeper. The water was almost at his nose but he didn't stop he went deeper and so did his thoughts. 

He did something horrible again. Something very awful. Again. He looked at his hands again. Still dirty.

Dirty and disgusting.

Disgusting, smelling...

Covered in blood.

His kimono. Covered in blood.

His body. Coverd in blood.

His mouth. Covered in blood.

Not his.

He felt water enter his lungs but he was in no rush getting out. He was not a human after all.

Not completely, at least. 

After getting out and drying himself with a rag he had with him, he took a new kimono and pants out of his bag. Thankfully they were clean. He put the on, hiked up his sleeves and began washing his dirty clothes. Good thing they were black. Granted, everything he wore was black. He liked the color. Telling his grandma he found comfort in the color, despite her nagging to update in the color area. 

While washing, he listened around him, the sound of the forest. The animals..... the cicadas......the water....... and the waterfall nearby. Calling him.

To come closer. To see.

He stopped himself. It would be no use anyways. He tried before. When he was younger.

He can't do this to his grandmother or his father. And he won't die anyway.

Dad.

He misses him. 

His grandmother does too.

He is clean so he goes to sit at the tree by the river, waiting for his clothes to dry. The next town is just a few hours away. He needs to find a temporary job there and buy food and new equipment. He never stays in a place too long. He wanders. And he likes it. He takes his water bottle, his food, a piece of bread and cooked fish from yesterday, and his small notebook to sketch. He has nothing better to do until he falls asleep. 

A while passes and he is getting tired. He puts everything away in his bag. His clothes were hanging on the tree branch. Using his bag as a makeshift pillow he lies down, about to fall asleep. 

He hopes the little girls is with her parents now.

Chapter Text

"Have you heard? "

"The forest story? Yeah!" 

Three girls were at the market, discussing the recent news. The horrific story spread like wildfire across Kamigoe. Everyone was whispering and retelling what they heard.

"I'm glad the girl is back with her parents! But oh my God the way he died!? SCARY!", Miko whisper-screamed at the her friends. Muko nodded in unison.

"My grandma went there and she saw it. He was in 3 pieces. 3!", Momo gestured the number with her hands to hammer in the point. As if almost screaming it wasn't enough.

"Do you also think it was a yokai? Could've been an animal....", Muko suggested. It was a plausible explanation in her eyes, however..

Momo shook her head at her suggestion. "Most definitely. I mean, can a normal person or an animal just rip appart a person into pieces? Cleanly, like you bite a piece of a takoyaki? My grandma said it is most likely a new yokai.", Momo said with absolute sertainty.

"No way!", both Miko and Muko, exclaimed in horror.

"Yeah, she has never seen something like this before and she knows all yokais like each spoken line of her favorite bakatono play." Momo knew her grandma very well after all.

"Scary. But he had it coming", Miko said conclusively 

"Oh definitely!", Momo agreed. She hated people who prayed on the weak and vulnerable.

"Glad the girl is okay", Muko said relieved, putting an open palm to her chest.

All of them nod in unison.

Miko, Muko and Momo were best friends. Best friends since they were 9 years old living in the same area of Kamigoe. Mikos parents had a farm. Mukos family owned a small tea shop. And Momos grandma is a spirit medium and shrine maiden. 

Right now they are at the market to shop for their families. They finished shopping already and now were sitting in Mukos teashop.

After the discussion of the forest incident had been concluded, Miko picked a new topic to talk about. That topic will make Momo regret not going home immediately.

"Speaking of {had it coming} what happened between you and your boyfriend? I heard he was found outside with the biggest bump I've ever seen. Was it your grandma?" Miko asked amused. At that, Momo fell over the small table. Almost knocking over her tea. 

"Shut up! Yes, it was! ", She said defeated.

"We broke up. He tried to... you know...... I kicked him but he caught it and yeah..."

"Damn. We told you to be careful about guys like that." Miko scolded.

"Cut me some slack. He was my first boyfriend. And he broke up with me this morniiiiiiinggggg" Momo whined.

"What did you see in him anyway?" Muko asked curiously. 

Momo played with her hair, going quiet and then responded, "He looked like Ken Takakura." 

Miko and Muko looked at each other and let out an exasperated sigh. Loud enough to hear two rooms over.

"You are such a fangirl." Miko concluded.

Momo wanted to cry. She felt so embarrassed. She had not escaped her grandma's lecture at night. Further hammering the point, that she had terrible taste in men. She still felt the kick in her stomach from this Tuna -face-squid-bastard. 

She really needed to get better at insults.

"We hate to break it to you but such guys are already extinct.", Miko and Muko said in unison.

Momo felt defeated, sinking further over the table like a deflated fish.

///////////////////////////

Momo was on her way home. Walking around like a drunk flamingo, and a droopy expression. Her friends did not comfort her at all. Which was fair but still! She needed comfort or she'll punch something. 

She passed through the market on her way home and stopped to get something to eat at a nearby stand, when suddenly she heard a sickening sound.

BAM!!

ouch... 

That sounded painful!

She turned to her left to see a group of guys. One of them was on the ground. The others were pointing at him laughing. 

The guy on the ground was holding his head, specificallyhis forhead, groaning quietly in pain. She ran towards them and knelt down to the guy on the ground. The guys went from laughing, as if it was the most hilarious comedy in the world, to complete silence. Momo saw a rock in front of him. With blood on it. Almost half covered in blood. She looked back at him and softly took his hand away from his face to take a good look at him.

His hair was curly almost messy, ravenblack and long and overdue for a cut. He wore glasses. Big round glasses that obscured his eyes in some angles. Like right now. What scared her however, was the blood cascading down his face. It was a lot. And it kept going. She looked at the wound.

It was deep. 

Momo turned back at the guys just standing there. And stared at them with scrutiny. "What a bunch of jerks. Is this world only populated by assholes?", murmured Momo. Under the scrutiny of a pretty girl, the group of bastard bullies left quietly.

The boy was frozen in place. Just sitting there, lost on what to do or to say. She took out a handkerchief out of her small carry-on bag, folded it and placed it on his wound. That snapped him back to reality. 

"Hold it there.", she ordered and he obeyed without question. She got up and stretched her hand towards him. 

But he hesitated. Just staring at her hand. And after a long minute he takes her hand and gets up. 

Momo lead him to the market. To a pharmacy. To ask for bandages. The boy immediately started panicking. "Nononono, you don't have to buy it. I'll pay for it. You don't have to!!!". "Calm down! I insist and it's okay. Don't worry about it.", Momo said.

"No! I can pay for myself. you don't have t-"

"Kindly shut up! I am paying! End of story!", Momo screamed at his face. He shut up very quick. 

After getting the bandages, they left the market. Momo instructed the young man to sit down on a rock at the edge of the road that leads to the market. He obeyed without question. Red from embarrassment. She then removed her handkerchief, drenched in blood, replaced it with a thick cloth and started bandaging his forehead. The guy remained silent throughout the whole process, which Momo found awkward. 

It was quiet. Peaceful. For nobody.

The guy was in an internal stop. He was never approached by anyone before that didn't want to hurt him. And here this girl was. A total stranger to him and taking care of him. Out of her own will. How should he react? Should he say something? What should he say? Did he say thank you at least? No, he didn't. He should probably say it right now. Yes, yes.

With a gigantic effort, he tried to speak. "Thank you.", he said in a barely audible tone. Momo barely heard his gratitude. "I'm sorry, did you say something? I didn't hear it clearly.", Momo said looking at him directly while tying the bandage around his head. The boy looked at her and repeated himself a little bit louder: " I said, Thank you. For helping me."

"You're welcome!", she answered happily, "Aaaand.... done! How do you feel?" The guy touched his bandaged forehead and answered back with: "I feel fine. Thank you again." 

"No need to thank me again! And you should change the cloth every few hours to avoid infections, okay?", she said. The guy just nodded.

///////////////////////////

"Soooooo..... does this happen often?", Momo asked him to brake the silence. In hindsight, she should have asked something else. 

"Yes, but I'm used to it. It doesn't bother me. I've had worse.", he answered. Momo stared at him, stunned. What the hell?

He shouldn't have said that.

"Don't worry about it! It's fine, I swear!" he screamed while shaking his head and arms rapidly and then deflated, bowing his head while he scratched the back of his neck. "I'm sorry......" . Momo snapped out of her frozen state. "Nononono don't apologize, it's ok. I was just surprised that's all!" She really was. She newer met someone so unlucky. The guy raised his head to look at her in embarrassment. He just dumped his issues, except not really, except yes really, to a fucking stranger. Way to go, dumbass. ".....sorry.....", he said again.

"Serously. Stop. It's fine", Momo deadpaned at him as if she could read his inner thoughts. He apologizes too much.

Noticing his large bag she asked, "Are you maybe new in Kamigoe?". "Huh?..Oh! Yes, I am. I just arrived a few hours ago but I won't be staying for long and I'm trying to find a job for the time being. I'm kinda low on food right now, heh... And then the other guys came by and.... yeah, you know already.", he trailed off. "Oh! Do you maybe know someone who's hiring temporarily? And somewhere without much social interactions, please.", he asked her. She thought about it. Hmmmm....... well her grandmother needed help with maintaining the shrine..... She hit her fist into her palm. "Yeah! My grandmother is a priestess and a spirit medium and she has her own shrine to take care of. But she is often away on missions and I alone can't maintain it because I work late, so we in need of help with maintenance, cleanup and supplies during the day. Not many people come by, probably help requests you'll need to collect. You could stay in our spare room. You could also try delivering kawarabans to vendors when they come to town. News often travel late here. It's an early night job so minimal social interaction as well. And that's all I could think of.".

He paled.

His eyes widening.

This girl has a spiritual background. And he is not very fond of priests or shrines for obvious reasons. How can she not tell? How can she not sense that he is not normal? Wouldn't it be also weird to live with people he barely knew? And women on top of that?

He could do delivery. It's more discreet and he doesn't need that much money anyway.

It's much more safe. 

Yeah...He is not entering a holy place anytime soon.

He would rather not be on fire.

Literally.

"Hey! Earth to.... you?" 

He was startled by a waving hand in front of his eyes. She looked at him with a bit of concern. Head tilting to the side a bit he turquoise earings clanking at her movement. He had been just staring into space. She could see the look of horror his face. Did she say something wrong? 

Crap! 

He spaced out. Why does he gotta be so bad at interacting with people. It makes him wilt... "U...um... The delivery job works for me best. Um. How do they hire?" 

///////////////////////////

"Thank you very much young man!" 

"Here take some for your hard work!"

It was his last delivery for the night. He delivered the new kawarabans to the old couple, who own an inn he is staying at. Thank God the girl gave him some more money to, at least, stay for a few nights. He plans to pay them and her back after his stay.

"No, no, thank you! You don't have to-"

"I insist! You are scrawny, you need some food! Take it!", the old lady scolded him. He reluctantly takes the plate of onigiri and sits down a nearby table to eat them. It's been a few months since he ate some good food. Homemade food...

He looks at this sweet old lady, and this nice old man. 

Grandma... 

He claps his hands together and says, "Itadakimasu" 

What a bummer.... 

He feels awful. They look like it took a long time to make. She shouldn't have bothered. 

"Are they not good?", the old lady interrupted his thoughts. "Are you okay?", asked the old man. 

Crap!

He did it again.

He spaced out.

Again!

He started frantically stuttering, "No! No! I'm okay and they're tasty. I was just remembering something, that all!". 

He ate all the Onigiri, thanking the owners for the food and wished the good night. "Make sure to sleep properly! If you need anything, just ask, okay? Good night sweety!", the sweet lady told him while he walked up the stairs to his room. He waved back at them, wishing them a good night before sliding his door closed. 

He changed from his simple black kimono to a much more comfortable yogi and laid down to his futon. After putting his glasses next to his pillow, he stared at the ceiling.

And he continued to stare.

A silent worry crept to his chest.

He saw the news on those kawarabans...

The little girl was alright

Thank God. He let out a sigh of relief. However....

They found the body...

He should've hidden the body.

And now he has more people after him. More skilled priests. 

He probably should stay low for a while.

Way to go, idiot. Can you do anything right? You are an embarrassment. 

His birth givers words echoed in his mind. 

He barely slept that night.

///////////////////////////

It was the next day. 

But he really didn't want to get up. At all. Despite it being like 2 hours before midday he didn't want to get up. He doesn't feel productive for today. 

Getting up feels to tiring right now. 

Too much work.

Being awake felt too much. 

But the the sweet old owners would check up on him.

He didn't want anyone to worry about him.

It bums him out.

And he needed supplies anyway.

So he got up from his futon, changed his bandages, like the girl suggested, put on his glasses and changed to his dark red kimono with loose black pants, dropped the bag over his shoulder and left his room. 

He ate breakfast, said bye to the couple and left to do his errands. He walked to the market. He needed food, a new notebook, because his old one is nearly out of paper, some pens, medical supplies, mostly bandages, rags for cleaning up and of course, a present for his grandma.

While shopping he caught glimpses of those kawarabans about that incident. He heard people talking about it. It surprised him that some indirectly praised him for getting rid of those type of people. He usually never heard something like that. 

One street vendor he was buying some sweets from started talking. 

"Worried about that yokai huh?" He got spooked a bit by the sudden start at a conversation. "Eh? Oh! Yeah. I've been hearing about it while passing by. At least the little girl was safe". "I'm also glad. Must have been a scary experience for her. But at least these types of people are getting less and less." . He nodded at his words. The guy gave him his snacks and he paid. "Here you go and goodbye! " -Thank you and goodbye" he waved to him and went on his way back to the inn. 

///////////////////////////

The sun was setting already. And then his stomach grumbled. But he's too tired. He could wait till next morning. His stomach didn't agree. Jerk.

He left the inn and went outside again, because the kitchen closed already. Contemplating on what to eat, he smelled something delicious. With a watering mouth he slouched to a small restaurant. As he entered, a lady greeted him in an admittedly wierd manner. Calling him young lord. He guessed that's part of her job. He got seated and given a menu. 

He looked at the menu. Tonkotsu Ramen sounded good right now. Probably some tea as well. He felt eyes on him. From behind. He turned his head to look at the source and saw familiar faces. The guys, who threw the rock at him about 2 weeks ago, were seated behind him a few tables away. Their leader was looking at him with annoyance while his lackey were creeping out their server. They had a silent staring competition until-

"Hey, it's you!", the girl, who helped him, was standing in front of his table in her uniform. Asimple youkata with an apron. A small smile on her face.

He looks at her. "Oh, hey! Nice to see you again.", he greeted her with a small smile. "So, you work here?" 

"Yes, unfortunately...", she answered deflated. "Anyways, what can I get for you?" 

"Emmm... I'd like Tonkotsu Ramen and some green tea please."

"Coming right away!" 

While he was waiting for his food, he decided to kill some time by sketching and at that moment, the gagle of immature adult babys walked towards him. His mood imidietly soured.

"Can I help you?", he asked annoyed. The leader sat on the seat infront of him with a smug smile on his face. "So, you're still alive. How sad. And yes you can help me.".

"Wow, nice conversation starter there. Heard that one already. What do you need.", he countered. The leader mood shifted, seeing as he didn't get the reaction he wanted. "I need you to apologize to me. Right now. On your knees.", his temper was showing. "And why should I do that?", annoyance evident on his tone.

"For humiliating me infront of a girl and my guys!", he answered more angrily. He is loosing his patience.

Wow.

This guy's ego is really fragile. 

He just stared at that leader, a bit bewildered. What should he apologize for? For existing? For being next to him at that time? For getting help? 

Man, this guy is a dumbass.

"Emmmm... No? All I did was existing. Not my fault that not everybody likes your " humor". I don't have to apologize for anything. Now please leave me alone." 

That wasn't the right answer apparently.

The leader imidietly lunged at him, grabbing his collar and punched him. His glasses digging into his face. The leader dragged him from the table, threw him down and started kicking him. His lackey joined in. He curled in on himself in pain and trying to protect his head. He felt a sharp kick to his ribs, hearing it crack. He spit blood out. People were screaming around them. Some running out, probably fetching the nearby authorities. Some yelling at them, pulling at them to stop.

Something burned.

It is coming from him.

Deep in his soul.

It started to flare up.

Trying to get out.

He knew what it was.

He doubled over in pain. 

He had to hold it back.

He has to. 

Wack!

CRASH!

It sounded all around the restaurant.

The server, the girl from before, has high kicked the leader at the side of his neck, sending him flying across the restaurant. The lackeys stopped, stunned. 

"GET OUT RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!" 

They all ran out, leaving their leader behind. 

"AND DON'T EVER COME BACK!!!!", shouted the owner, a middle aged lady, after them. She then went to the leaders unconscious body and dragged him out where the authorities were waiting. 

The flare up died down, now focusing on healing his internal injuries. He opened his eyes slowly to see the girl that saved him. Worry clung to her face as she was asking something. Touching his shoulder and then his face.

Her touch was warm though. 

He couldn't hear anything.

He slowly closed his eyes and passed out. 

Chapter Text

Momo's gut twisted horribly. 

Just a few minutes ago, she left the table to request this guys order from the kitchen, and the next thing she knew, there was a big commotion with customers screaming for help, for the authorities or at the group beating up her new customer.

The customer she met two weeks ago, who she nursed is wound on his forehead and directed him to a job, is now unconscious infront of her. Areas of his face are beginning to swell green and blue. Blood cascaded from his mouth, glasses completely intact for some reason, just a crooked frame. 

She had to do something quick!

She needs to fetch a doctor or a nurse! 

Oh, how she wanted to just break this wet towel of a bully's neck for this. She absolutely hates people that hurt people for their amusement!

"Let me take a look."

Momo looked behind her. Behind her stood the most skilled, beautiful and the most feared nurse in this side of Kamigoe. A no-nonsense kind of woman who absolutely can't stand bullies and would threaten violence on them. People around here call her Queen Sensei. A bag of medical supplies in her hands. The relief she felt at that moment... 

"Roll him carefully on his back. You! Girl with the short bob. Fetch a pillow to cushion his head.", ordered Queen Sensei.

The girl ran to fetch several pillows and she put them under the victims head. At the same time Momo obeyed the nurse and rolled him to his back carefully and removes his glasses. 

He was still unconscious.

Queen Sensei slowly opened up his kimono to take a look at his torso. Looking back at her was a big dark red bruise on his right side of his ribcage. Examining it further she concluded that at least two of his ribs were broken.

Momo and several other people watching on concern cringed at the look.of this big bruise. The nurse then pushed at the wound.

Crack! 

Momo cringed at that sound. Like chewing a mouth full of nuts. He let out out a painful groan but still remained unconscious. Queen Sensei just pushed his ribs back in place.

Momo suddenly feels something. 

It was small but present. 

And it didn't feel safe.

It felt dangerous.

She felt it before the guy went unconscious too. It came from him.She felt a shiver run down her spine. 

Something is terribly wrong with that guy. 

Having a spirit medium as a grandma and her teachings has its perks. Such as, picking up small amounts of spirit presence. Admittedly not much but enough to feel at least something. 

And this one felt like bad news. 

REALLY bad news.

"His lung is not damaged thankfully. He is breathing normaly.", said the nurse. She then began addressing his other wounds while Momo kept watching him. 

///////////////////////////

Take deep breaths...

In...

...And...

...Out 

Slowly....

...he thinks to himself as he's gaining consciousness. His eyes still closed. His injuries hurt a bit but they're getting better. Nothing he can't handle. 

He had worse. 

He hears voices around him. He doesn't recognize who it is. 

He opens his eyes slowly. A wooden ceiling. 

"You're awake", said a voice. It was gentle, kind, motherly......Turning to his left, to the source of this voice, he sees two figures. His eyes getting used to sight again. But everything is still blurry. 

Where are his glasses?

Even without his glasses, he recognizes one figure. The girl and next to her, a lady. Admittedly scandalously dressed, her kimono was down to her shoulders but she had kind eyes. The girl looked relieved, sighing out loud. 

"Hey, welcome back. How do you feel?", asked the nurse. The girl with auburn hair looked at him worried. 

He didn't answer right away. Instead he tried to get up. 

Only to be stopped by his aching wound on his ribs.

He hissed a bit before four arms assisted him to sit up. 

"You need to rest.", instucted the nurse. He didn't need it honestly but they don't know. Don't need to know.

He finally speaks, "No, no, it's fine. I'm fine. I'm sorry about the comotion. I better leave." He got up on his feet and waddled towards the front doors. The girl followed him and argued, "Listen. You didn't do anything wrong! Also, I'm coming with you, to make sure you don't faceplant on the way. Where do you stay currently?" He imidietly stared to deny help like usual, "You really don't have to- " "No, she needs to.", interrupted the nurse, "also, here. Use these to cool your injuries. Also come tomorrow for a check-up.". She gave him the ice in a thick cloth and he put it over his kimono to his aching ribs, while the pretty girl took off the apron and gave it to her boss, who excused her for the rest of the day. 

What a bummer.....

Today was not his day.

At all.

///////////////////////////

Momo accompanied the injured guy to a cosy looking inn. Always holding her hands out in case he falls over. 

It was dark out already. Probably close to midnight.

As soon as the entered, they were greeted by an elderly couple, that as soon as the saw the boys state were panicking. He did his best to reassure them, smiling and all, but she could see in his expression.

He was uncomfortable.

He was tired.

The old couple were visibly upset, asking them if they need anything. The lady went to her small alter in the back wall, next to the storage area, clasped her hands together and began praying for him.

He immediately panicked and told her, it wasn't nesseary. Cluthing the bag of ice, hard. The lady continued. 

Momo was confused as to why he had that extreme reaction to a prayer meant for his recovery.

And then, that feeling of uneasiness returned.

The same dangerous feeling from before.

It stopped when the lady finished praying. 

"I'll get you something to eat. You must be really tired and hungry.", she said. Her husband was already on his way to fetch ingredients from the storage closet.

"That sounds really good right now.", answered Momo enthusiastically, "We'll be waiting in his room then!".

///////////////////////////

After getting exesivly doted on by the sweet couple, she assisted him to his room. He limped to his door, his ribs ached, the ice on it helping to numb the pain and both entered his room. 

All he wanted to do, is go to bed. Food can wait. Screw what his stomach wants.

Momo took a good look at his room. It looked sad, despite the inn ladys attempt to make as cozy as possible with a warm rug, red toned lamps and the incense burning on the small shelf by the window. 

Momo helped him to sit on tne cushion by the small table. He grunted. 

"Easy.... easy.. don't move too much", she whispered.

"I'm okay. Don't worry.", he spoke like a parrot.

Are these the only words he knows? Man he should keep track on how many times he said the same thing already.

Bummer...

"Quit saying that.", she scolded and sat down infront of him, "You need something? How do you really feel right now?".

He sight heavily. He is so tired. "To be honest, I feel like shit.". He clutches his hair slightly, agitated. Finally he said something else. The parrot is learning. 

"Understandable. That beat down was awful to look at. What happened?". The guy now seemed more agitated. Today was not his day. "I don't know, just-, remember the time when you helped me the first time we met?" 

"Yeah what about it?". She already had an idea were this was going.

"Well, because you helped me, that apparently made him look bad, bruised ego and all and he wanted an apology.", he twirled his free hand to emphasize his emotional state of being so done with everything tor today. 

She was correct. "For getting help?"

"For getting help."

And being correct, did not make this situation any better. "Ugh... like a said before: he world is populated by assholes. she sighs aggrevated. Some people were really annoying. It really annoyed her to no end. She tried to change the topic of discussions, because being in a foul mood all night is not good for recovery. Bless her grandma to teach her that.

"Anyways. The important thing right now is that you rest."

"Got it." he answered. He sounded so tired." By the way have you seen my glasses?". " Yeah but their frames are crooked. Here", she gave him his mangled glasses. "Great, now I have to fix those". He put them to the side. 

Now they ran out of topics to talk. The silence is so awkward. They could just sleep. She could rent her own room and leave in the morning. But she was so hungry. He probably was too. He didn't get a chance to eat his ramen. It really wasn't his night at all. 

Soon the lady arrived with a tray of delicious smelling food. Rice with vegetables, eggs, and hot tea. For the soul. They thanked her and she left the room. They ate in silence. The food was really delicious. The silence was back however. So to brack the ice Momo began to speak.

"Hey, um, we haven't introduced each other yet." 

The guy looked up from his bowl, still chewing. "I'm Momo Ayase and you?" He set his bowl down and gulped down what he had already with his mouth. He was admittedly a bit nervous. He didn't tell anyone his name often. He was invisible to most because... reasons.

"You're right. I'm Ken Takakura. And no I'm not the Samurai nor am I related to him.", he said while scratching his neck in embarrassment.

He needed to clarify. Often when he tells a few people his name, for jobs and so on, they imidietly assume he is the legendary Samurai, Ken Takakura, or at least related to him. They always seemed disappointed when he corrected them. He really hated it when it happened but he didn't have the time to explain why he has the same name as a legendary figure. Why his birth giver decided to name him like that. Probably to tolerate his existence better. He already was disappointed by his existence, he really didn't need anyone to pitch in even more.

He finally looked up. She has been too quiet. Only to see her beet red face.

Meanwhile Momo was panicking. She must have misheard him. Her face locked in a state of shock. She must have tripped and this is some wierd hallucination.

The guy saw her face. In pure disbelief. Like an explosion was right behind her.

And then she fell on the ground and started wailing, while holding her ears.

"NO WAY!!!!!!!!"

He startled. And then he deflated.

Great job, chief.

Today was not his day.

At all. 

Chapter Text

No way.

There is no way.

Momo couldn't believe her ears. 

There is no way, in this world, that this guy's name is KEN TAKAKURA!

He has to be lying.

"I don't believe you! There is not a chance on this world, that that's your name!", she shouted at him. 

"Honest to God, that's my name. Why would I be lying about my own name?", he answered, a bit puzzled. What's her issue?

Momo continued to thrash about on the ground. She can't believe this! This is surely a prank by the gods. It has to be!

"That's it! You are forbidden to ever say your name around me again! You need a new name!"

She pointed at him, as if he actually did something wrong.

"A new name!? Who are you? My mother? That's my name. Deal with it.". Ken could not believe her audacity. What's with these people in this town? Is something in the water?

"No! I refuse!", Momo did not let up. She can't handle it. 

They stared bickering with each other before Ken completely gave up and left the table and went to his futon. 

It was late after all. 

"Hey! We're not done here!", shouted Momo after him.

"I'm done! I'm tired Ayase-san. We can argue in the morning. Good night!" He pulled his covers over his shoulder, clumsily because of his ribs, the ice already melted in a bowl on the table.

Momo quieted after that. Yeah, it was getting late. She got a futon from the owners to sleep in the same room as Ken. Far from his of course.

///////////////////////////

It was the next day. Ken woke up. He's a light sleeper after all. In contrast to Momo, who sleeps like she's a statue.

After both of them waking up and eating some delicious breakfast, they continued thier-but mostly Momo's-not-at-all-issue-issue about his name. 

"Why is my name an issue to you?", he finally asked her after their argument got them nowhere. "Because I said so!", she crossed her arms. Ken just stared at her in disbelief. 

The audacity. 

"Huh?! That's not an answer!"

"Shut up! I'm thinking of a new name for you!", She put on her thinking face. Now what would be a perfect name for him. Hmm.......

"I'm sorry, that me having my name is so offensive to you Ayase-san.".

This brought Momo to stop entirely. This is not what she meant.

He walked away from her and went to his bag next to the small shelf. Ayase-san carried the bag for him yesterday. 

People in this town are really weird. 

He pulled out his notebook to finish his doodles. Its gonna get difficult because. His glasses are not for wear right now. He needs to use his energy for something more productive, in his opinion. He has a busy day today.

He needs to tell his boss why he wasn't on the job yesterday and he needs to prepare to leave in two weeks...

Ugh... so much to do! Too much to think about....

He sat down on another small table next to the door and began his work. Momo was intrigued on what he was doing. Also this is a better topic to talk about.

"What is that?", she asked, glancing towards his sketch.

It was some kind of creature, almost human looking but naked and with stripes. Its face was so ugly. It looked like a snail with wierd pupils and crusty lips. They also were build like a box. Around it were notes on this creature.

Ken startled at her sudden appearance right next to him. But he recovered quickly hiding his sketch from her in a panic.

Momo put her hands up surprised, "Woah, calm down. I'm not going to rip it off you hands! I was just curious. Is it supposed to be so ugly?"

"That's what they actually look like. But worse. And to answer your other question, this is a Serpo." He whispered actually embarrassed to be caught sketching. Bracing to be mocked by her.

"What's that exactly?", Momo asked curious.

"Cryptids from a different realm.", he answered her, testing the waters of her intentions. Trying to read her face. He is very wary of people. 

"You made that up. There is no such thing as a criptid.", Momo deadpanned. Ken begged to differ, "They exist!", he was getting his original tone back, "I've encountered them several times!".

"Did you get drunk or where you on drugs perhaps?", she giggled at his insistence, "you must have been hallucinating.". He just looked at her, as if she's delusional.

"Be serous right now Ayase-san. I don't have the time or the money for booze or drugs. Also my grandma would've killed me already if she ever caught me with drugs or alcohol.". A small laugh escaped his lips, Momo giggled a bit with him because her grandma was the same.

"But still, cryptids do not exist.", she continued to let small giggles escape her lips, this time from the ridiculousness of this conversation.

"They do."

"They don't. Ghosts do though." 

He snickered, more like giggled evily, "There is no such thing as ghosts."

"Huh?! What the hell did you say?!"

He was still snickering.

"Stop laughing at me! They are real! Have you not seen the news on the kawarabans? You literally distribute these! They exist!", she yelled while flinging her arm all over the place. He just looked at her smugly. "Oh yeah? with what proof. Speculatied drawings are not proof.". That annoyed Momo a lot. 

"My grandma works with ghost and spirits. She is a spirit medium. I witnessed an exorcism while training with her. They were thrashing and contorting unnaturally! I heard their bones cracking too!"

"Could also be explained by cryptids mental effects or by illneses.You have no proof.", he stated, holding his chin up in smugness.

Oh this smug little bastard.

"You stinky salmon!" She grabbed him by the collar of his dark blue kimono and they both stated arguing again.

"Let's make a bet! If cryptids do exist, I'll become your servant for a month!", she looked at him, determent to prove him wrong.

Hs corrected her, "Two weeks. Bet taken! And if ghosts exist, I'll become your servant for two weeks!"

"You tuna! Why two weeks?!", Momo asked annoyed. Ken answered in na normal tone. "Because I'll leave the town in two weeks. "

"Oh. So soon?". Why did she feel dejected 

"Yeah I'll never stay anywhere for long.". Now he feels dejected....

 ///////////////////////////

Momo went home after breakfast and had to explain to her worried and justifiably angry grandma, why she wasn't home last night. 

"Broke up with a bastard and found a new guy two weeks later?", her tone strict and accusatory.

"Grandma, it's not like that, I swear! Hes just a friend, that needed help!", Momo clasped her hands together to gain mercy from her fierce grandmother. After Momo explained the entire ordeal of yesterday, her grandma finally let up. Seiko feeling proud of Momo using her teachings for self defense, patted her head. 

"Uhuh, anyways. I'll be leaving for a cry for help on the next town over. I'll be back in 5 days. Food is in the pantry. Don't burn down the house and remember your prayers, alright? and no boys!" 

"I'm not five.", she rolled her eyes at Seiko,"What kind of job is it?"

"Just some blessings, an exorcism, and a small youkai problem. Their priests is turned out to be posers."

"Well good luck grandma.Take care!"

"Don't need it but thank you. Take care kid.".

They hugged each other goodbye. Seiko taking her trusted bat Nessie and her bag with their utensils and holy items, was out the door to a carrige outside their property.

Later that day, night time specifically, after Momo has finished her shrine duties, locked the house and to the market. At the takoyaki stand she found Ken eating one. Waiting for her how they agreed. He rocked back and forth on this feet. Seeming exited.

And he was.

How couldn't he.

Ken never felt so happy and exited in his life. Except when it comes to cryptids and wierd sky events. Having bad experiences with most people in his life, he gets easily happy with a minuscule of basic human decency. Now he was making a positive connection with another person by doing regular things. Friends dare each other sometimes right? The name issue be dammed. He already talked to his boss about his absence from yesterday. With the help of some eye witnesses, he could keep his job but had to do extra delivery next week. No issue for him. And after that, he got his frames fixed and went back to the inn, a bit relieved.

Now he was standing by a takoyaki stand. Eating one and the other in his hand is for her. His grandma would approve.

When he finally saw her, he smiled, "Ayase-san, you came!". He offered her the takoyaki. She smiled at him, took it and began to eat, "Yeah, how are you doing now? With your ribs and all".

"They're fine, they don't hurt that much anymore.". Momo was a bit surprised, "You heal really fast.". Ken seemed to backtrack, trying to save face for some reason, "I-It's a family thing. W-We heal really f-fast. I hope your parents were not mad that you stayed in the inn yesterday." 

They began walking towards the forest. He insisted that he knows a location where cryptids reside. She also knows a place where yokai reside. And for that, they took two lanterns.

"Just my grandma, my parents are dead."

That silenced Ken a bit before he said, "I'm sorry".

"You're okay. Don't worry about it. She was mad because I didn't tell her or at least send someone to tell her. She has to butt in in my business.", Momo says in annoyance.

"Shes your grandma. It's her job to worry about you.", Ken countered.

"Yeah you're right. she did raise me after all.", Momo solemnly answerd, "She taught me all about yokai and ghosts, rituals and prayers, martial arts... she used to teach me a ritual to protect me but kids made fun of me especially my crush at that time. I was so sad and embarrassed that I screamed with my grandma calling her embarrassing. I still do other rituals but our relationship was never the same. I realized that I was not mad at her but mad at them for making fun of her. That is why I believe in ghosts and spirits, even if I have no proof."

Ken was silent throughout the entire ordeal, quietly listening. He really admired her resolve now. She the asked him, "What about you? Why do you believe in criptids?".

"It's because I've seen them Before I just believed in the occult. I don't know. They just fascinate me. Do I need a reason to like something?"

"Yeah you're right.".

"You know .... it's the first time I've had a proper conversation with someone. You're easy to talk to." 

"You too surprisingly. Oh! I found your perfect new name!". Rolling his eyes he humered her, "And that would be?"

"Okarun!" 

He raised an eyebrow, "Okarun?" 

"Because you like the occult!", she smiled.

He let it go, he liked the name. 

They arrived at a clearing with a creepy, abandoned looking building. A shudder ran through Momos body.

"So here we are.", Okarun put his hands on his hips. "Do cryptids live here?", Momo asked a bit scared, though she wouldn't show it to him. 

"Yes, the harmless kind. Now go inside. I'm going to go into the clearing with the cave to find our ghost.", said to her while walking towards the direction. 

"Okay and I'm going to prove once and for all that cryptids do not exist!"

///////////////////////////

Momo was sacred. The place was so big and earie. It was so quiet exept the noises coming from outside.

Leaves rustling form the wind and owls hooting. Water dripping.

Drip...

Drip...

Drip...

Momo walked through the halls, her lantern illuminated her way. She entered from one room to the next as quietly as possible. Broken wood, creaking floors, rusty wardrobes, dusty futons and spiderwebs everywhere. She could barely breathe in here. The moonlight shone through the cracks of the shoji doors and walls. Some open. Some closed. 

Creak~

Hah!

She immediately turned to the source of the creak.

Nothing.

She continued to walk down the hallway. She has a feeling that someone is watching her.

Creak~

It came from the back. She turned around. 

Nothing.

She continued to walk. She is slowly getting more scared. If cryptids exist here, what would they look like. Would they be friendly? He did say here are the harmless kind.....

Creak ~

It came from right behind her.

She turned around, light in toe.

Standing far in front of her, were creatures. Three of them. Just standing there.

They looked human.

But wrong. 

And then they started running.

Towards her. 

She let out a scream and began running away as fast as she could. But, unfortunately, they were faster and they caught her. Tearing and pulling apart her kimono. She screamed again. So loud as she could.

She hoped someone heard her.

And someone did. 

///////////////////////////

Ken arrived at the spot where Momo told him, would be a yokai. He stood infront of a big cave. And there he met a face.

A familiar red face. 

"Hey, brat", it greeted him.

"Hey grandma. What are you doing here? I was going to visit you in two weeks.".  

"Awwwww, you haven't forgotten about me.", the wild white haired old woman cooed, "Good! As to what I'm doing here, none of ya business, brat." 

Ken looked at his grandmother's dark red face in smug doubt. She caved.

"Okay I wanted to visit you to see how you're doing. And because someone wasn't careful disposing of a body.", she answered. Her yellow eyes looked at him in scrutiny. Ken's shoulders sank slightly knowing she was right. "But you did save that girl so, you're forgiven this time. "What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" 

"Oh w-well I made a bet with a friend.", it still sounded foreign to say.

"A friend? You made a friend?", she asked surprised.

"I don't know honestly more like aqqantace?", he schrughd his shoulders.

"Uh huh?"

"Yeah, we bet on if cryptids and ghosts are real." 

"They are real."

"I know I just antagonized her a bit-"

"Hmm... Her?", his grandma asked intrigued. Crap! Backtrack! Backtrack!

"I swear it's not- "

A high piched scream sounded in his sensitive ears. He hears de wings of birds flying away from a certain area.

Ken's blood froze. He knows that voice. And he knows where it's coming from. 

Ayase-san is in danger!

Immediately on instinct he ran and ran towards the abandoned building. Lantern already forgotten. The closer he got the more he sensed her fear and the more he sensed the source of her fear. These creatures are back. What are they doing here? 

They shouldn't be here!

His bones cracked and shifted with each step. 

KLIK-KLAK

He is not gonna get a friend of his hurt. Probably his first ever friend. 

Chapter Text

Momo found herself in a horrific situation.

Strapped to a stone wall by chains by hands and her feet chained to the floor. She was leaning on a futon, propped up by pillows. Her kimono was barely covering her body with how ripped it was.

And the three creatures were surrounding her. Staring at her. They looked like a caricature of a human. Out of proportion, head's too large, faces too big. They looked so wrong. 

Momo began to breathe fast, thoughts racing.

What are they? 

What do they want?

Why? 

Where is she? 

"Greetings woman", said on of them, interrupting her thoughts. His mouth did not move. Further strengthen her belief that these things were not human.

"We are friendly. We don't want any harm.".

Look who's talking...

"Like hell! I'm over here barely covered and in chains! So much for friendly Mr. Fishlips!"

This creature did not react at the insult.

Another chimed in, "We are in a friendly relationship with humans. We just need your help.". That didn't sound good to Momo at all, "Oh yeah? With what?"

"You see, we are at the brink of extintion but out kind is made up of only males."

Momos eyes widened at the implication. She began to breathe faster, tears already welling in her eyes, threatening to spill. She needed to escape quickly, possibly now! No way she's gonna get-

"And with your help we can survive just a bit longer.", he then shows his gross looking package. It was so gross to look at that Momo began thrashing and screaming, eyes closed, not wanting to look at that thing. 

"The hell I will! I'm saving myself for a proper man like a Ken Takakura! Go to hell, you octopus shit head!"

"We are Serpos.", said the third while pulling out a vile of some kind of liquid, "It seems like we have to subdue you with this medicine." They grabbed her face to force her mouth open to pour the liquid down her throat. From the smell, and her grandmother's herbal knowledge, it's some kind of afrodisiac. Momo resisted as hard as she could. Even biting at their fingers. Hard. But they forced her jaw open so hard it felt like they would break it open. 

BAM... 

Everyone stopped what they're doing. 

Where did that sound come from? 

Upstairs...

Was somebody in the house?

Tap......tap......

Distant footsteps above them.

Momo never felt so relieved in her entire life and began screaming, hoping it was a soldier thet were dispached in the forest because of the Running Wanderer, "Down here! Help!"

The ugly serpos slapped her mouth shut. She tried biting them off again.

Tap......tap....tap...tap...

Whoever it was upstairs, is coming closer. Since her mouth was shut, she couldn't scream. So she moved her arms violently. The sound of metal chains echoed through the room. They grabbed her arms, to stop her from blowing up their cover. One walked towards the direction of the noise. The heavy stone door with only a little crack, big enough to see through, the size to stick a plate of food through. He looked through it seeing only darkness of the room.

Little did they know....

It was too late.

Tap......tap....tap...tap..taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptapt- 

BAM!

A leg burst thought the opening, caving its face in and sending him flying across the big dark room, and retreated. Then she felt its aura. 

It was familiar. 

Very familiar.

A red light eluminating from the opening, when a bony hand came through, the another, and then a leg. Grasping at the stone wall to push its horrific face through the gap, and the came the other leg. The creatures bones were cracking, contorting horrifically as he slowly pulled itself out of the wall. The sounds made momo shiver throughout the body. It looked like a very very big horribly mutilated spider. 

Her kidnappers were standing in attention, ready for a fight. The amalgamation of limbs came through and reset its body in a somewhat normal way.

It was the most terrifying creature she'd ever seen. It was tall and lanky and hunched over, bones visible through its grey dead skin. Its limbs were abnormally long, and its face was the worst.

She was staring at a very large maw with a set of equally large teeth, permanently stuck as a smile. Its eyes were obscured by big, round, familiar, glasses, that shone red. Its white red straked hair and clothes seemed to be made of fire with how they were moving without any wind. 

It just stood there.

Staring at them. 

"An intruder of the male variety. Please leave. This doesn't concern you.", said one of her kidnappers.

The creature just stepped closer, a blood curdling growl ecaped its maw.

"It seems aggressive, we need to get rid of it." They then transformed to the same creatures Okarun has been drawing. And he was right, they looked wore in person.

"Kindly leave. If not, then you'll be a good use to us, with the the woman".

Poor choice of words there. 

The creature suddenly ran in such a speed Momo thought he was teleporting, towards the Sepro, biting him in between his legs, tearing off his disgusting looking package, flips over and then smashing his foot on his head, breaking its skull in a puddle of blood. Like a mosquito. The creature then adjust his posture from practically doing the bridge. "Its too powerful. We need to retreat!", yelled the next one, who tried to run but the creature caught up to him lightning fast, on all fours, biting in between his legs and flipping him over his head, smashing it's body on the floor, ripping his junk off and crawled under in between his own legs, contorting its spine. 

Creepy or not, Momo was cheering it on as he fought. "Great job, Mister! Thank you!" 

It the stood up in attention to the last one that was holding Momo in place. As the creature started to make his way towards it, the one on the ground pounced on his back, with chains in hand, slamming the creature to the ground, wrapping his chain around its neck.

The monster clawed at the chains thrashing violently and growling about to shake the Serpo off.

At that moment the remaining Serpo grabbed Momo by the face trying to force the liquid in her mouth. She fought as hard as she could against the effects. 

I want to go home. I want my grandma, she thought to herself, pleading for the goods to hear her. She has to fight back but her self control is slowly slipping.

"Focus your chi from your abdomen and feel it shooting up from the top of your head."

Her grandma's words echoed in her mind.

"But grandma, everyone is making fun of me when I do that".

"But Momo, it's for your protection"

"No! I don't want to. I look stupid like that. They call me wierd and you a wannabe miko! I don't like it, so I won't do it!"

Oh, how much she hated herself for ever saying that...

I'm sorry grandma. I really am...

Clink

Clank

Shatter!

Suddenly her aura got stronger. What is happening?

Momo then started glowing, her chains broke and the Serpo, who was holding her, was blown back.

Momo had no idea what was happening to her but at the mere sight of her trearing her cuffs off with her mind she instantly knew.

Grandma was right!

The creature stopped fighting the Serpo on his back and just stared at her in pure awe.

"Ayase-san?"

With a new found determination, she materialized two big teal hands and grabbed the Serpo from the monsters back and flung it across the room, freeing the monster in the process. She then lauched a spining kick at the Serpo, who was trying to grab her, and this time she successfully kicked him so hard against the side of its head he spun so hard the went through the wall. Did not work on her former boyfriend but worked against the Serpos.

She floated to the ground to calm her breathing. But the movement of the gangly creature put her on high allert. Friend or foe, she wasn't certain. Better be safe than sorry.

The creature removed the chains from is neck and dropped the on the ground. Now at a closer look, it looked so familiar. A husky, low voice came from it as it spoke.

"Are you okay Ayase-san?"

Wait a minute....

"I didn't know you had powers Ayase-san. It was really cool to see."

"Didnt know I had the either...", she anwered. It stepped closer to her. And quickly bowed down to her feet. His spine making an unnatural curve. Momo was startled by that quick action.

"I'm so sorry, that you got caught in this mess! They were not supposed to be here. I wanted you to see the harmless cryptids. I'm so sorry!"  

And then it dawned on her.

"O-Okarun?!"

"Hm? Oh... yeah, it's me..." 

Momo couldn't ask any more questions, as the building started to collapse. 

"Oh Shit! We need to get out!", he yelled. He grabbed Momo in a pricess-carry and began running through the opening that momo made with the Serpos body.

He's really fast, she thought to herself as he ran through the building towards the exit. 

Now they were out.

The buildings now a heap of wood. 

Both were breathing heavily.

It was not a fun night.

At all.

"Well.... now I believe in cryptids.... After all I got kidnapped by them."

"And I belive in ghosts. After all I encountered one."

Ken was suddenly aware that Momo is practically naked and quickly set her down, backed away from her with his eyes closed, turning his back to her.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to look!", he turned back to normal, his bones cracking back to regular proportions, took off his black kimono he wore and stretched it towads her, "Please there this to cover up."

Momo took the kimono from his hand and dressed up. Good thing it was long and frankly warm and comfortable. "Thank you. You can turn around now."

He did. "Are you okay?", he asked her.

"I am now but it was scary.", she whispered and hugged herself in a way to comfort herself. "I can imagine", he tried to offer his sympathy. Momo instead imidietly deviated from her issues to focus on Okaruns wierd situation, "But are you okay? What was that just now? What happened with you? Are you cursed? Did the yokai in the cave curse you? What are you?-"

Okarun was overwhelmed with the rapid succession her questions came in. He raised his hand to stop her, urging her to catch her breath.

"Hey, hey, one after the other! I'll explain. In the meantime, we should go back."

"Okay, my house then because it's a bit far from people, so nobody has to see us like this"

"Good idea"

And so, they were walking to Momos house.

///////////////////////////

There is no better place, than in the comfort of you own home. 

That is if you can even enter.

Okarun couldn't enter the Ayase property, since he was not normal by spirit standards, so Momo had to resort in taking off the protective charm off the tori gates leading to her home. 

The first time he caught fire, which didn't bother him very much, much to Momos horror.

After removing the charm, he could enter normaly.

Reminder to herself to put it back up...

Entering her home, she offered Okarun to sit in the washitsu while she changed upstairs in her room. While waiting for her, Okaruns mind started to drift. To drift to how the hell he should apologize to Ayase-san properly for getting her in danger. There goes his chance of ever having a friend. He wouldn't be surprised if after he explains everything, she'd throw him out or use the charm to burn him. 

He probably should leave sooner rather than in two weeks. As soon as this is over, he'll return to the inn and not bother her ever again, even avoiding her.

Why did he have his hopes up at all.

Stupid.

Stupid.

Stupid.

Momo came down from her room, wearing a soft blue kimono with a darker obi.

"Here. Thank you for lending me your kimono", her voice woke him up from his self-destructive thoughts, handing him his neatly folded kimono back.

"No problem, thank you....", he took it from her hands and put it on. He didn't want to remain top less infront of a girl. He feels self-conscious about it.

In the meantime Momo went to fetch some tea, to calm the nerves from this whole ordeal. Ken just sat there at the table, in seiza, waiting for her, still silently cursing himself out for his carelessness and hopeless wish-fulfillment. 

Honestly he could fill out a whole book just with his self-hating monologs alone. 

Momo came back with the tray with tea ready and set it down on the table. Pouring both cups and giving one to Ken, she sat across from him. 

Now it's time for explanations.

"So, time for me to explain, soo.... first your question?", he nervously asked, sipping his tea. Momo sipped her tea as well. Its a calming brew made by her grandma for the specific purpose of calming Momo down after nightmares when she was young. 

She had several questions flying in her mind like a flok of birds. Where to start... Maybe about the yokai in the cave? Maybe that can explain his wierd appearance back there. 

"Yes, my first question is: are you cursed?", she asked him directly. "No". 

That was quick. Now she was confused. Appearances like that can only be acheved through possesion, a curse or a deal. "Did you even meet a yokai or a ghost in the cave? Was it a safe one?"

"Yes, I did and yes it was.", he answerd rather professionally. Momo however imidietly jumped to the opportunity to flaunt that she was right. Pointing at him and laughing, "Ha! Told you so!". Ken sighed and gave her an amused look, validating her belief. "Anyways next question, and I know I will sound insane but I have to ask. Sooo... are you a yokai taking the form of a human?". She really didn't want to assume but she had nothing else to go off of. Ken reassuringly answered her, "Don't worry. Compared to me you're the sane one. No, I'm not dead yet but you're close enough." Now that confused Momo even more. And what does he mean by "yet"? She didn't like whatever he implied with that."What do you mean? And what do you mean by "yet"?". Ken backtracked quickly, flailing his hands infront of him, " I mean, aren't yokai vengeful spirits of the dead? I am not dead, that's what I mean". Momo squinted her eyes at him, daring to lie to her face. She continued with her interrogation, drinking a sip of her tea.

"So that leaves me with one theory: Were you born like that? With these powers and all?". If this assumption is correct then she needed to ask her grandma about this. 

"Pretty much", Ken answered after he sipped his tea, bracing himself for the inevitable reaction.

Momo set her tea down, and quietly looked at him. Analizing him. He looked like a regular human. It's hard to believe what he said if you didn't see him about hours ago. "So you're related to a yokai?". It sounds like a stretch but she needed more clarification.

"Correct"

"So you're a yokai-hybrid-thing?"

"Correct".

He sipped his tea, his hands trembling slightly.

Things slowly got much clearer.

"Is that why you looked panicked when the old inn lady started to pray and why you looked like a startled deer when I mentioned my grandmother's profession?", she clasped her hands together and pointed with both index fingers at him. Setting his tea down, deflating mentally, he answerd, "Well, yeah... I don't have good experiences with the holy side of things... I tend to stay away."

"Oh? What happened?". 

That was a stupid question Momo. 

Why would yokai have good experiences with spiritual practices?

He answerd anyway, "Just some attempted exorcism and personal reasons....I don't wanna talk about it." He picked up his cup and drank his tea. Not looking at her at all. He seemed so small now, his shoulders and whole posture droping, trying to make himself small.

She needed to apologize. "I'm sorry for prying. I didn't mean to".

"It's okay, continue...". He still hasn't lokoked at her. "Well I want to know, and it's just speculation and because the way your bite and your speed seems familiar to me from what I heard, but are you the Hashiru hōrō-sha by any chance? And say the truth!" . His eyes widened. She figured him out. That's no good. Nobody was supposed to know who he was. Granted he did a shit job at hiding himself. Usually he did great. 

His grandma is going to kill him.

Great job, bastard. Now certain people will come after you, empty-headed freak.

After a while of contemplating on what to say, he decides to be honest with her. There was no point in hiding it anymore. "....Yes, that's me.....". 

And with that, it dawned on Momo, "Dear lord, you mutilated that trafficker...". Ken shut his eyes in shame, angling his head down so his glases caught the light, his expression now not readable, the cup of tea already getting cold. Seeing this, Momo concluded he is beating himself about it, so she opted to lighten the mood. "Don't beat yourself about it. If you didn't kill him, the village would have done that instead.", she said as a matter of fact. The empire did count that a crime that ends in execution. Nobody wants a war between two nobles because of one person criminal act against the others citizen.

Ken giggled quietly at that. Momo successfully cheered him up a bit!

Now she can continue with her questioning and since she told him about her life, it's time to ask about his. "May I ask what yokai are you related to?". Ken looked up this time an sheepishly answered, "Well.... My grandmother is a pretty infamous yokai. She's called 393 ri per hour hag." 

He is not serious.

"There is no way...NO WAY! Not only do you have the name of a legendary Samurai but also are related to one of the most infamous and dangerous yokai in history?!" 

Ken flinched at the outburst and fearfully answered her, "Y-yes?"

"How?", she deadpanned. 

"I don't know, my dad was her son, he married my mother and I happened! What do you want me to say?", Ken squeaked out.

She never heard that a yokai being born like a human was a thing. She definitely has to ask grandma about it when she comes back.

"Okay, okay....next question. You did meet a yokai in the cave, right? What was it?", she asked him enthusiastically. They were her interests after all. She needed to know!

"It was my grandma. She came to see how I was doing and because of the forest incident. ", he answered casually, grabbing the kettle to pour himself and her some more hot tea. Momos jaw dropped. "The Hag!? Was there to visit you?!"

"Yeah she does sometimes, runs around the country for a scenery change.". Momo shook her head to regain her control over her emotions and continues with he question. She focuses on something he said before. "Okay last question: If you knew ghosts exist then why lie to my face, huh?" 

He flinched again. But not from a loud noise but from her reaction for his sheer stupidity of a reason.

"I just wanted to poke fun at you. Nothing personal.". 

Momo was offended. 

"You stinky octopus!", she stomped over to him and grabbed him by the collar of his kimono, yelling at his face.

"What is your obsession with seafood insults!?", he yelled back.

She just humpfed and stomped back to her seat, crossing her arms and puffing up her cheeks.

Seeing as the questioning was over, he decided it was time to leave. So he clapped his hands in thanks and got up walked to her and bowed.

"I now explained everything so I'll leave now. Thank you for your hospitality and kindness". He starded to walk towards the front door, about to put his sandals on. Momo imidietly stopped him by calling out, "Hey who told you you could leave?".

Ken stopped his actions and turned to her. "Well, I thought that once I explain everything, I'll leave and keep my distance. You don't have to associate with me again...After all I did put you in danger. I'm still so sorry for that."

"Who're you to decide who I want to associate with?", she seriously questioned him, hands on hips serious, glaring at him.

Ken didn't know how to answer. He already explained his reasoning. What more could she want?

"Do you know how many people I could talk to about these things?", she asked him. Still looking at him with a intensity.

He whispered a response fideling his glasses to hide his eyes, "Your grandma?".

"Yes but it's only one person! Who isn't home most of the time! I would love to have more people I could talk to about these things, so don't go and decide for me how I'm supposed to treat you! I already decided were friends now, so stop that self-depreciation-bullshit! It'll get you nowhere!"

Ken did not know how to react to that. He was like a fawn when it comes to any human relationships and here this girl was, breaking him down so accurate, it scared him.

After a while he decided to say something.

"Ugly..."

"Hah what did you say?"

Why did he say that?!

They began to bicker with eachother, pushing, pulling and yelling.

Then the bell by the door rang. 

Out of tune.