Wakana is an ordinary girl. She has dark brown shoulder-length hair, chocolate orbs for her eyes like most people, fair complexion, and a small stature. She has an ordinary face. She doesn't stand out in a crowd, nor would anyone remember her even if they pass her twice.
Yes, she would like to believe she was ordinary.
But she knew reality was far from that.
You see, she had always been able to see ghosts. Monsters, creatures of the dark, evil spirits, youkais. Call them whatever.
In the beginning, she managed to convince herself of the fact that the mishaps she's had had were all part of her being such a klutz. That she was imagining things and it was her mind playing tricks on her.
As the years passed and she had matured, she knew better. So she learned to adapt and eventually developed a knack for escaping their haunting spree. Although they still managed to become a nuisance to her and her family.
Now living on her own, a university student, the encounters had become less.
On her way home, she'd pass by the road near the river and would sit there for hours on end, observing the celestials with the telescope she'd borrow from a friend in her club.
Juggling two part-time jobs and her studies, she usually comes home late in the evenings. But she doesn't mind. Not when she gets to see the vast sky lit by billions of stars above her.
Tonight was like the rest. Sitting on the ground, with the cushion of the soft grass beneath her, she had all the space to herself. It was quiet, peaceful, serene even. Just the night she needs.
Having done her homework on summer constellations, she decided to call it a night when she spotted an orb of light floating from afar.
That was odd.
She blinked, thinking her mind was just playing tricks on her.
But the orb she saw multiplied in number. One became two, three, four. More appeared one by one, lighting up the fog that came with it. And soon enough, she could see silhouettes of odd and hideous looking beings walk past her in what seemed to be a parade.
She let out a loud gasp before she could stop herself earning her the attention of the shadows near her.
Loud whispers ensued and the parade went to a halt.
"She could see us."
"What are we gonna do?"
"Where's the Nidaime?"
"Oi, Kurotabo did you see the second?"
"Scamper you fools! Go head back to the mansion. We'll deal with this."
"Oi Kejouro, stop pushing."
"Move along now, kids. You too Nattou Kozou."
Gaining back her ability to move, Wakana decided to make a run for it. She hurriedly grabbed the telescope and its bag lying on the grassy ground and sprinted out of sight.
"Oi, woman, eh, lady! Just wait!"
Why does it have to be her? Was she jinxed or something? Wasnt it enough being haunted by these creatures on a daily basis? Now she's being chased by a whole horde of them.
From a distance, she could see open stalls and a few people walking about in the wee hours of the night. The busy downtown would be a good place for hiding. She could blend in with the crowd.
She was rounding up a corner when she bumped into a wall and nearly got knocked over. Only when a hand grabbed her did she realize, it wasn't a wall, but a someone.
When she looked up, a curious golden orb and a mischievous smile from a raven-haired man, greeted her.
"I'm sorry. I, I wasn't looking." She muttered in succession, whilst looking over her shoulder.
He followed her gaze.
When shadows reflected on the walls of the building even though the street was empty and noise erupted from afar, she side-stepped him and started to walk.
"They just don't know when to stop, do they?"
What the brown-haired beauty said caught his attention. "You mean the youkais behind us?"
"You could see them too?" Surprise written on her lovely face.
He should be the one asking her that but he feigned innocence and nodded.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her in the opposite direction. She had to keep up when he broke into a run.
She first seemed flustered at the contact, but it was forgotten when the creatures behind gained speed.
It was impulsive of him, but this prank turned game of hide-and-seek gave him a rush that he's never felt for so long.
He may not want to admit it, but he was having fun.
"I'm the one they're after. Why are you also running away?"
"I know these streets better than anyone." He shot back at her.
He pulled her into a narrow corner between the two buildings and covered her mouth with a hand. She resisted at first but relaxed when she realized what he's done.
A small group of the youkai had gone past them unknowingly.
A few more minutes had passed with the youkais looking towards their direction but always seeing pass through them.
Realization dawned on her. They weren't exactly well-hidden but the said creatures really couldn't see them.
It felt like she was shrouded by a thin layer of a barrier.
Wakana backed a few steps from the handsome stranger and looked him in the eye. "You're one of them." She stated matter-of-factly.
"You're sharp."
"You weren't exactly subtle." She gestured to his attire. He was wearing a green striped yukata. "Who wears that and goes walking in the streets in this time and age?"
"And your hair." She pointed. His long black tresses floated behind him and protruded at the back. "That's not normal." She grinned.
"I'm a hanyou. I'm half human, half-youkai." He stated the fact with pride. He owned it.
Strangely enough, his admission didn't scare her off. In fact, she got curious. So there are such beings. A being of both, light and darkness.
"So what did you do? Make us invincible or something?"
"Something like that." He smirked like he was privy to some joke.
He had a relaxed stance and a care-free demeanor. An attitude afforded only to those who have all the time in the world. But somehow, looking at him closely, even in the dim light of the street lamp, his nonchalance didn't reach his eyes.
When he deemed the coast clear, he led her out into the open and they walked beside each other in silence.
She was clearly exhausted from all the running but she wore a smile on her face. It was contagious. He even felt like smiling back.
She was about to ask him why all this time he had his left eye closed when a bird came flying towards them.
"Karasu-tengu."
"My apologies, Nidaime. But the hyakki yakkou had encountered a problem on the way home."
The bird blinked a couple of times, realizing the current supreme commander wasn't alone. "A human girl."
He was about to say something else when another one of his subordinates arrived.
"Rihan-sama." A breathless, neckless, blonde was running towards them. This one she recognized. "We were looking all over for you."
"Wait - what? You're their leader?" She couldn't believe her eyes. These rascals had been the bane of her existence for so long and this guy...
Before he could respond, she had her fist connect to the side of his beautiful face. And stormed out, leaving all the youkai present dumbfounded.
She just punched Rihan square in the face.