Hikaru POV:
I woke up the next morning being uncomfortable. I opened my eyes and found myself in an unknown place. When I came to my senses, I realised I am tied up. I was panic-stricken. I started to struggle against the rope.
"Somebody? Anybody? Please help me!" I begged and at that time the door slid open to welcome a very beautiful man with a side ponytail with calm composure.
"Please rest assured, I will untie the ropes." He assured me. Okay, on a second thought, please send a girl if there is one. I began to wiggle away from him. I must have looked silly because I most probably looked like a caterpillar. I turned to look at him and saw a faint smile. So handsome and so scary!
"You do not wish to be untie by me?" He asked, puzzled. I nodded my head in no vigorously but he did not listen to me anyway. Once I have been untied, I made a run for it. I was one step close to freedom when a leg shot out and I fell. I shut my eyes, thinking that I would fall on my face but I realised that moment never came. I opened one of my eyes and saw myself hanging in mid-air, just a few centimetre from hitting the floor.
"I can float?!" I shouted to myself. I was impressed.
"You are not exactly floating. I am holding you up!" He mused
"Ano, could you please let me go?" I asked timidly.
"Are you sure?" He asked. I nodded my head and he let go, causing me to fall directly on my face. He burst out laughing. Hard.
When I looked into his eyes, I was taken aback by its beauty and seriousness. They seemed haunting. I scrambled back and was about to make a run for it when he grasped the back of my collar and lift me off the floor.
"Hanashite!" I struggled.
"You will run away from me; how can I do that?" He stated. I froze at the statement as a blush made its way to my cheeks. He took full advantage of that and carried me to the room full of men.
"Souji, why are you late?" A commanding voice asked.
"Gomen, gomen, c'mon little boy, say sorry." Say Souji whose name I just learned shook me.
"Hai, gomenasai" I bowed as I crossed my fingers.
"Souji, let the poor boy down already!" A kind man commanded.
Souji let me down or more like dropped me down the second time immediately. He then gracefully walked towards the man with side ponytail and sat directly in front of me. His eyes focused on me like a predator watching his prey.
"Ahem, please start with your name" The kind man stated. I pushed myself backwards until the door was touching my back.
"Yukimaru HIkaru" I mumbled. At this, everybody widens their eyes.
"By any chance are you the brother of Yukimaru Chizuru?" He asked. After much thought, I decided to not answer them. What if they tried to hurt her?
"No, I am not her brother. Why do you ask?" I countered. I started to chew my lower lip. It was a habit that every time I lied or give half-truth I would do that. I was deep in my thoughts so I didn't notice the sword that made its way towards me until it was too late.
"Do not lie!" Souji growled
"I did not lie." I relied back.
"I shall determine that!" He countered with a smirk. With a swipe, he cut my cheek open. Blood spilled down my cheek. I knew he was trying to see if I am an Oni. I was one but only half. I was a half Oni. My wounds heal slower than a normal Oni but still faster than a human. I would have laughed and joked about it if it wasn't for the fact that the one cutting me was a man.
"Souji!" Everyone shouted.
"Shit! Someone call Chizuru!" The man whose name was Harada shouted. It was a chaos and in the middle of it, I realised that Chizuru was here. My eyes went wide. I did not eve realised that Saito-san had fetched Chizuru. I only recovered when I heard a familiar voice.
"Hikaru?!" She asked.
"You guys know each other?" Hijikata-san asked.
"Yeah, she is my younger sister." Chizuru said.
"So you lied!" Souji said. He was trying to save himself.
"You asked whether I am her brother, I am not a boy so I cannot be her brother." I explained and held back my breath.
"You are a girl?!" Everyone shouted except Saito who as much as he tried, could not help but widen his eyes and Souji who seemed unaffected.
"I Kondou Isami, have made a mistake again!" Kondou-san said.
"It's not your fault Kondou-san, Hikaru always dresses like a man. Sometimes, even I forget she is a girl. Although, I am surprised she have not passed out yet. She has always been afraid of men." Chizuru explained.
"I think you are already too late; she blacks out when Kondou-san admitted his mistake." Heisuke pointed out.
"Hikaru!" Chizuru screamed.
Translation:
Ano: Excuse me
Hanashite: Let me go
Gomenasai/Gomen: Formal/informal way (respectively) of saying sorry
Oni: (A yōkai): Demon
