No Way Home

I vividly recall the day during winter break where I was stuck at home because of the snow.

It was a terrible winter break. Our kotatsu broke, and I spent all day curling up under my blanket. Dad worked everyday and was never home. Snow covered everything around our house. I could see the city in the distance, and dad was probably in one of those office buildings.

On that winter day, my mother, Kazakiri Kuuga, went outside.

It was not the weather for taking walks, and we didn’t lack anything in the house, yet my mother walked through the snow piling up on the streets.

She had been acting weird since the beginning of winter break. She often stared outside the window, and would often smile at me for no reason, and she kept staring at me while I ate my meals.

It was as if…she was mentally preparing herself for something.

I never knew what her reason for leaving me was, nor could I guess. She seemed more satisfied with her life. There was nothing unusual other than that.

Wait, no…that winter, she had the gaze of someone who had lived a hundred years.

I could not remember much of what happened during the night that my mother went outside and never came back. I recall putting on my winter clothes and mittens, then heading off to find her. I recall my breath turning white. I saw footprints leading from the house down to the streets, stretching on and on and on.

I walked beside those footprints, not wanting to ruin them, and occasionally stopped to knock the snow caked at the sole of my boots. I wobbled through the snowy town, my nose red and snotty, and my skin prickling from the cold.

Turning around, I could no longer see the house, only the streets covered in white.

I walked, and walked, and walked, and lost my strength. I reached downtown, and looked up.

A small woman stood on the roof of a building. She climbed up the metal fence…

And fell.

I could hear screaming. An angel has fallen.

I only remembered myself muttering ‘ah’. I understood nothing, not what had happened, or the commotion that surrounded me. I wanted it all to end as a terrible dream.

I forgot about what happened for years. I was in denial. But as I grew older, the events of that day came back to me in bits and pieces. The snow, the blood, and the angel falling from the sky.

It was the reason why my dad and I moved to Tateyama.

It was a peaceful seaside town, far from Chiba city. On a clear day, you could see Mount Fuji on the horizon, across the sea. There was a park on top of a hill not too far from the school where I would be attending. There was not much to do, not many places to go, but the first time I saw the sun set behind Mount Fuji on the other side of the sea, I found myself at peace.

Some day, I will overcome my trauma. I will think of Kazakiri Kuuga and remember all our happy memories. But even though I thought I could condition myself to think about happy things when I remember my mom, those two had to dig it up…

I got home and saw the Yakou’s shoes at the entrance. Akame came running towards me and hugged my waist.

“Nii-nii…I’m sorry…”

She repeated the same sentence over and over, rubbing her teary face against my shirt.

It felt disgusting.

She was a filth-licking youkai who could not control her instincts. She was some kind of monster inhabiting my house, pretending to be part of my family. And she was the reason why this stupid awakening thing is happening to me.

“Don’t touch me!”

I pushed her, and she fell on her butt. Kaname-san rushed to the scene.

“Yuu..” She stared at me in disbelief. I could not believe that I was capable of doing something like this, but deep down, it felt good.

I heard the door opening. Dad entered the house, and saw me towering above Akame, who was a sobbing mess.

“What the hell did you do…?” Dad understood what happened immediately. My mouth twitched into a smile. I no longer knew what I was doing.

“You’re not leaving this house, huh? Fine. I’m leaving.”

I pushed dad out of the way and stormed out into the dark. I heard someone yelling after me, but I did not look back.

I wandered aimlessly until I came across a familiar house.

Izayoi’s house sat on the road up the hill towards the school. Her grandfather had a garden full of leeks in front of the house. The lights were on, but I could not see through the paper windows. However, one of them was open, and Izayoi saw me.

“Do you need something?” She seemed so unperturbed, it was almost unsettling.

“Well, I think I need a place to rest for a few minutes. I have nowhere to return to.”

“Do you want to come in?”

“That’d be nice.”

Izayoi’s house was chock full of knick-knacks. I made some space at the dining table and saw her grandfather approaching.

“Sorry for the intrusion.” I said.

“Hoh, when I was younger, I made a lot of trouble for myself and had to hide at a friend’s house, just like you. Too bad, there’s not much trouble you can make in a town like this, don’t you think?”

“Right…”

“Should I wake Ikki up? He’s drooling all over his exam prep notes.”

Wait a minute, so Izayoi’s older brother is called Ikki? As in that Phoenix Bronze Saint? I stared at her, and she had a ‘why are you surprised’ look on her face.

“Would you like something to drink?” She asked.

“Nothing. Don’t bother.” I replied, but she set down a glass of water in front of me anyway. “I didn’t come at a bad time, did I?”

“Oh, no. I was just telling some old stories. Hana-chan had a sour look on her face when she got back from the bath house.”

“Grandpa, call me Shou! Hana is such a boring name!”

“Oopsie, I forgot you’re a full-fledged knight of the zodiac now. I gotta call you by your proper name.”

“Yes! And I’ll protect you, grandpa!”

I chuckled as I listened to their conversation. Izayoi cleared her throat but said nothing.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I like this kind of atmosphere. It’s…warm.” I mumbled. Izayoi and her grandpa had sympathetic looks on their faces. “Well, I think it’s about time I leave.”

“Kazakiri-san, your family…”

“It’s fine. I’ll manage.”

Manage what? I had no idea.

As I got up and walked towards the door, Izayoi pulled my arms. I dared not turn around and look at her. I did not want her to see the look on my face, so I thanked the Izayoi family and left.

I sighed when my feet hit the road again. So, I made myself homeless. Neat.

I will bring calamity to those around me when I awaken, but by the looks of it, I don’t need to wait until then. I am already bringing calamity to those around me.

Just…take a look over there.

Why is there an oni staring at me?