Title:Mask
Author:Fandrea aka Cinca
Rating: T or PG 13
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Word Count: 559
Reiko liked solitude. It has been pretty much her only faithful companion afterall. It was the only time she could be herself, or what came closest to it. She wasn't sure she knew how to be herself anymore. People didn't like her, she was creepy, talked to herself, fought with nothing but thin air and people seemed to get hurt around her. Suffice to say most avoided her, while some outright bullied her, calling her Fox Eye and throwing rocks at her. Ayakashi on the other hand outright hated her, which was fine, it's not like she liked them.
Then she met that little kid. Just one time, things seemed to go right and she thought she could have a friend. He was the first one to stand up for her against those three boys and talk to her. But she should have known it wouldn't last. It never does. And wasn't it just ironic it had to be an ayakashi that ended their friendship? She knew she will probably never see him again after seeing the damage the exorcism had done. But it was fine, right? It's not like she expected to become friends with someone, someone who accepted her for who she was, right? She learned early on that such people didn't exist. It hurt, but it was better this way. Better to have nothing to lose then losing something precious. So she just smiled and moved on, wearing that smile like a mask to hide the feelings underneath. It's what she always did. She couldn't show a weak heart afterall, especially around all the ayakashi. It became easier as time went by.
Then she met the old woman. She was sitting at her favourite spot when she heard the noise the old lady was causing by tripping over a rock and losing her staff. She should have realized something was off when the lady asked for her mirror even though there was a store close by where she could have bought one, but it's not like Reiko had any use for it, it couldn't heal the wound on her face. And it's not like she liked looking into mirrors, which is why she told the old woman to keep it. Reiko was surprised when the old woman continued to show up, but it was still nice to have company, someone to talk to. Someone who didn't shun or judge her. Or tried to eat her. Someone who cared for her. She seemed to be the first who truly understood her and Reiko wondered if her future self will be like that lady, if she ever made it to that age. She was surprisingly okay with it. When the old lady showed her her place, Reiko expected a small cottage with them being in the middle of the woods, the last thing she expected was a shrine. Of course the old woman was an ayakashi, afterall people never cared for Reiko, why would they start now?
Then the ayakashi asked for her name.
„You want to know? Have a match with me. If you win you can do anything you want with me. You can even eat me if you like." With these words she put the mask she perfected over the years back in place. Afterall, who would care to see the real, lonely Reiko underneath it?
A/N: Edited out some mistakes. Hope you liked and thanks for reading. :)