My eyes were locked onto the silver eyes that rested behind the rim of my sister's sophisticated glasses. Her skin wasn't as dark as mine though, she looked a lot more like Nick. Then my eyes trailed back to the empty arm sleeve that swayed in the wind. I wonder if that's because of her curse, or did something else happen to her?
"Ummm, yeah, nice to meet you too, or whatever." I said and looked away from her.
"It's been too long!" Boa cheered.
I looked back over and saw Boa practically leap into my sister's arm. Who picked Boa up and spun her around. It was weird, if I didn't know better I'd say they were sisters. But I know better, Boas a freaking Yokai coming back home...
"Boa, have you been taking care of yourself?" My sister asked and set her down, giving Boa a focused look.
Boa chuckled nervously. "Of course, whatever do you mean?"
"Been going home with less men? Actually drinking water and not alcohol?" She asked.
Boas face went red. "I ummm..."
Wow, was this someone in my family that's actually responsible!? It's so weird that she's not weird! She's missing an arm, but she dresses formal! She's getting on Boa for being a degenerate! Maybe this will workout great! I have a lot of faith in this.
....
Himitsu laughed hysterically as she downed another bottle of her blueberry sake. Boa had her arms wrapped around her and was drowning herself with another bottle as well. While I just sank back into my seat. Glancing around the small bar with people who weren't even remotely close to being as loud as our table. Great, I go to a foreign country and the only English speakers I have are getting piss drunk...
"Boa-san! You should get yourself a man like my Hana-chan!" Himitsu giggled. "So you can drink all you want! And he'll take care of you."
That sounds so unhealthy...
Boa started to sniffle. A purple snake suddenly slithered out from her sleeve and licked the brimming tears from her eyes.
"I had that! But I threw it away for stupid pointy ears." She whined.
She suddenly slammed her face on the table and I protectively grabbed my plate of dumplings. No way I'm letting her stupid ruin the only good thing I've got going. Thomas scooted back on my shoulder and I gently patted him.
"It's okay bud, she's just a degenerate." I assured him.
"Why are you so mean to me!?" Boa cried into the table.
"Because you're an idiot..." I mumbled.
"Hey! I can already see you're gonna be a handful." My sister said and pointed a bottle at me.
"Orion, I'm sorry!" Boa cried into the table again. "The elf wasn't even good! You were better!"
Himitsu looked at me with a very confident smile. Then she leaned into Lux.
"Don't worry, I'm a therapist." She said and looked at Boa.
She stared at her for a moment, then loudly burped into her ear. Which made Boa cry harder and shake. My sister just stared at her for a bit, then gently played with her hair.
"Now, tell me how that made you feel." She asked, and Boas' only response was crying.
Hhhhmm, if I steal the bracelet I can totally go home. I looked back to the two and saw Himitsu was still petting depressed Boa, but was now trying to fill a shot glass. And was doing the worst possible job. I lowered my mask and ate my last dumpling, then reached over to steal the bracelet from Boa. I'll try again for mental health next year.
Just before I grabbed it I sensed a new soul entering. I immediately opened up my soul and checked there's and for the first time in my life, I felt a true emotional connection. This void of self hate was consuming them, disappointment in themselves, distaste for their own looks, and a never ending spiral of expectations. If anything they should've been my brother.
The new soul came around the corner and I watched them approach our table. His fluffy black hair bounced as he walked, even with his ponytail it still failed to keep the rest of his locks still. While his bangs draped over a white cat mask that had shining golden trim on it. He was in a tracksuit and wearing slides. With this black box on his back that reminded me of the box food deliveries carried.
He surprisingly stopped at our table and looked towards the ladies. I figured Boa ordered something so she could eat away at her sadness. However, once he arrived his emotions changed. There was this sense of love and care. This overwhelming need to protect and coddle. I watched him carefully as he looked at Himitsu. Who was too busy missing her shot glass with her Sake to notice.
Then suddenly this wave of agitation swept over him.
"Aho." He said.
It seems like he's familiar with my sister. Maybe he knows her?
"Hey, ummm, do you happen to speak English?" I asked.
He turned toward me and nodded.
"Yes, are you Himitsus Kyoudai?" He asked.
"Uh, don't know what that means, but sure."
"I'm Hana, Himitsus' boyfriend." He said.
He casually leaned down and picked up Boa, then carefully laid her on top of his food box. Then he carefully reached over and picked Himitsu up like a princess. She groaned and gently slapped his chest.
"Anata wa Osoi, Hana-chan." Himitsu said and pouted.
"Tsuiteikenai yo, baka."
"Kimi wa metcha ijiwarui!" She then puckered her lips. "Seppun?"
He leaned in and kissed her with the lips of his mask and she started to whine. "Sōiu imi janai!"
He just reached out and ran his fingers through her hair. Not even attempting to respond.
"Follow me, I'll guide us home." He said and started to walk.
While Himitsu curled into Hana-chan like a sleeping cat. Then he just started to walk out of the bar. I looked back toward Thomas who just nuzzled me.
"Here we go I guess.." I said and followed after him.
I still wasn't used to how closed in the streets were here. This place was just really claustrophobic. People were inches from me at any given moment, the shops were just a mere step away along everywall. I really wish I was alone again with the Sakura trees. Maybe I could sketch them tomorrow. I tried to just not think about all the people and focused on Hana. No one around seemed to care or question what he was doing. Then again this was the bar area, I'm sure they're used to drunks being carried like luggage. However, I did get a couple stares as I walked down the streets. I wondered at first if they knew what exactly I was. But then I remembered I'm probably the first Egyptian they've seen.
Man I hate people, all their eyes on me. I took a breath and just tried to keep my mind on non hateful things. Thankfully our travels weren't filled with just walking. Hana would stop and make deliveries to different buildings. The interesting part though, was these little cat paws I noticed coming out of his bag. At first I thought I was seeing things. But after the third stop I definitely wasn't imagining it. There was something in that bag.
"Hana, is there...something in your bag?" I asked.
"Hai, it's my familiar." He said.
Yeah, of course he's magical...
"What is it? If you don't mind me asking?"
"It's...complicated." He said. "But it's a Neko."
Wow, he really should just be my brother...
"Oh, just like-"
A shiver ran down my spine as I felt the eyes of something on me. I stopped walking and turned back, but saw nothing there.
"Everything alright?" He asked.
I stared off at the alleys and the road, but still, nothing was there.
"Yeah, we're good." I said and faced forwards again.
Thomas'shair stood up on end and he stared off at something every so often. I tried to ignore it for a while, cuz of course spirits are here. I didn't feel like getting trauma dumped, however, these eyes weren't different spirit's looking. It was the same one, following us, block after block, delivery after delivery, it was definitely on purpose.
I took a breath and opened my soul just slightly and immediately a rush of cold air ensnared me. My body shook and images flashed into my head. There was a woman in a kimono, then a woman in normal clothes at a hairdressers, then a woman looking at herself in a mirror. They all looked exactly the same, yet I could tell they were from completely different eras in life. My scar began to tingle and it was like hands were gently caressing my very soul.
"Do you think I'm beautiful?" A whisper came into my ear.
I turned back, and this time I did see something. It was a woman in an alleyway. She was absolutely breathtaking, her obsidian locks shined without any light needing to illuminate it. Her skin was clear and blemishless while also having a figure of an hourglass. But the only odd thing about her was the surgical mask that covered her lips.I stopped walking and stared at her. And she stared right back at me. I blinked and suddenly her clothes changed. Her original light brown trench coat transformed into a blood stained kimono. In her once empty hands now we're a pair of silver scissors that were now dripping blood.
Was this? The Slit mouth woman? I went to open my mouth, but Thomas suddenly bit my ear and I yelped.
"Ah! Dammit! What the hell th-!"
I stopped yelling as the shivering weight of the cold air vanished. Just like the women in the alley did.
"What just happened...?" I mumbled.
"Nyx, are you sure you're okay?" Hana asked.
I turned back to him and just nodded. "Yeah, sorry, spirits ya know? Got a lot of weird ones here."
He nodded. "Well our house is protected, I don't have any more stops. So we can go home faster."
I nodded. "Yeah, let's do that."