Goodmorning everyone, how've you been?
I apologise since it has been a while when I uploaded anything actually. Well, now that the anime is actually out. I can say I am not disappointed, and somewhat happy some of my ideas that were going to happen in my story didn't appear in the anime – Yukiko's bird xD.
Well, if any of you are bored or wondering when the next upload for stories is going to be – check my profile.
[Edit] So, apparently I can't use the ***** as paragraph markers, so I apologise if there ends up being too many of the lines.
4/11 Monday - Afternoon: Cloudy
Souji stood outside Yasoinaba station, noting the lack of anything extravagant but bare about the place. The station peeked over a hill, overlooking the town of Inaba below. And to its left was a forest that stood as the only natural ward. Inaba lay rested in a valley hidden in a mountainous peek, like a bellybutton of the earth. It wasn't a famous place, however many tourists often sought to feel the healing waters of the hot springs that gave Inaba some repute.
"Hey!" there was a voice to his left, "Over here!" Souji turned around and went over to the man who waved him over, next to him; or rather behind his leg, was a young girl. He seemed about middle-aged, dressed in a dark-grey buttoned shirt with a red tie that hung freely from an unbuttoned collar. A black leather coat slung loosely over his shoulder with one hand. There was slight tinges of grey on the tips of his hair and a roughly shaven square chin that pulled up with a friendly smile.
They shook hands briefly.
"Well, you're more handsome in person than in your photo." The man tucked his hand into a pocket.
Excuse me? Souji searched his memory for anything to remind him.
"Welcome to Inaba, I'm Ryotaro Dojima," he continued, the tone in his voice turned serious as he ended. "I'll be looking after you."
"Oh? Than that must mean…"
"Let's see…I'm your mother's younger brother." He explained, he scratched at his head. "And that about sums it up". He had a fairly blunt and concise way of speaking, as if he were trying to avoid a stretched out conversation with a stranger. Souji felt an odd gaze upon him, like as if the older man was inspecting him.
"…" Souji simply grinned, "It's nice to meet you, been a long time, uncle."
Dojima nodded, smiling as he did. "I'll say…You've really grown. I still remember when you were still in diapers…" he chuckled awkwardly, scratching at his chin for something to say. Souji could not recall much about the man that stood in front of him or anything about the girl behind him. Then again, his mother never spoke much about her family.
Dojima reached behind him and nudged the little girl forward. "This here's my daughter." He put a hand on her shoulder, nudging her again. "Come on, Nanako, introduce yourself to your cousin."
The little girl turned to look at her father, avoiding Souji's face; she stared at her feet. Nanako let out a meek, "…'lo." before quickly retreating to the safety of her father's legs. Dojima turned to look at his daughter and smirked, "What're you so shy for?"
She responded with a quick smack to the back of his leg. "Ow, hahaha." He pulled out a ring of keys and inattentively played with it. "Well then… Let's get going." He sighed and gestured to the white compact-utility behind him. "My car's over there." As the three headed towards the car, Souji took a quick glance behind him and saw a leg poking out from behind one of the platform gates. Putting his bag into the boot and taking the backseat behind Nanako, the car started moving through the district.
Soon, they had gotten out of the district and moved over a bridge that extended itself above a small river. After a few minutes, Dojima idly tapped at the dashboard screen, "Hmph… we have to make a detour, running out of fuel". It was silent in the car, aside from the humming of the engine. Souji and Dojima began to discuss the plan for the year, while Nanako sat watching out the window. "As usual, your father and sis are workaholics", Dojima sighed. "It must be kind of hard for you to come out to the countryside like this for a whole year on such short notice."
Souji leaned an arm on the car door, watching the pylons passed. "Not really, I'm used to moving around like this. I'm already used to this place". He smirked despite himself.
"Well, there's only Nanako and I here so it's good to have someone from the family come and stay. So, you can think of us as one big family. Feel free to do what you want." Dojima glanced at his nephew from the rear-view mirror. Souji turned around to meet his gaze. "Thank you, uncle." "…Ah, you're being too informal", Dojima flipped his hand, as if waving off a fly then gestured beside him. "You're making Nanako uncomfortable. So, I'll say it again, while you are here – treat us like family." Eventually, the little girl's quivering caught her father's eye. At first, Dojima asked what was wrong, to which Nanako gave no reply. It dawned on him. "Do you need to go to the toilet?" Nanako punched him on the arm causing the car jerked suddenly to the side. Nevertheless, Dojima laughed it off.
If he had looked behind him in the back seat, he would have seen his nephew smiling happily, truthfully.
They eventually pulled up at a gas station, two pumps stood underneath a red rectangular roof, which on the two sides facing the intersection, in both English letters and Japanese hiragana was the word "MOEL" accompanied by a flaming symbol. The car pulled up next to a pump and a cheery attendant materialised as they stopped. "Hi! Welcome to Moel!"
Souji watched from the side window as a green delivery van left the station. Dojima looked to the seat beside him, "Can you go to bathroom by yourself?"
The girl nodded.
The family got out of the car; Dojima fiddled around in his pocket and fished out a pack of cigarettes, carefully out of the attendant's sight. Nanako stood in front of the car, looking around for any indication of a toilet, which the attendant noticed. She gestured to the small building behind the station. "It's in the back, to your left." She paused, indicating with her hands. "You know which way's left? The side you don't hold your chopsticks in".
"I know…Geez…" Nanako huffed and ran off.
The attendant peeked over Dojima's shoulder as the silver-grey haired boy got out of the vehicle. She was piqued with curiosity, "Are you taking a trip?"
Dojima shook his head slightly, "No, we just went to pick him up. He just moved here from the big city."
"The city, huh…?" she tilted her head in thought.
"Fill up my car while you're at it." He told the attendant, "Regular's fine".
The attendant tipped her cap. "Right away, sir."
Dojima took a glance around the station and guessed it would be a while until Nanako would come out. "Good as time as any for a smoke." he murmured to himself and strolled off, leaving Souji alone with the attendant.
The attendant eyed him with interest as he watched his uncle leave, stretching his legs from the long trip. She examined his uniform. "Are you in high school?"
"Hmm…?" He turned to look at the attendant.
"I was surprised to hear that you're from the city, does it surprise a city boy how little there is out here?" The attendant picked at her nails. "I actually think it's kinda boring around here. There's so little to do, I'm sure you'll get bored fast." She shrugged. "You should probably find yourself hanging out with your friends or doing part-time jobs."
"No, the country-side is actually quite nice." Souji said soothingly, "The air is a lot more cleaner here, unlike the city, anyhow". It was true enough for him; he had already adjusted to the country air. Friends, huh?
"But it reeks of gasoline here." she smirked.
Souji caught on and they both chuckled at the quip.
She walked up to him and gave him a welcoming grin. "Speaking of which, we're actually looking for part-time help right now." she extended her hand and gave half-hearted sigh. "Guess it'd be weird if I said 'Welcome to this 'ere' town' wouldn't it?"
"Not at all." he replied, extending his.
And they shook.
She broke off, "Give it some thought, why don't you. We don't mind if you're a student." She said.
They chatted as Nanako came out and watched them talk. The attendant flinched. "Oh, I should get back to work." And quickly began to fill up the tank with fuel. Nanako stared at her cousin as he rubbed his face.
The world began to swirl in Souji's eyes and a bulging pain in his head had come unto him, but it disappeared as soon as it had come. Exhaustion took him as though he had been running for miles.
"…Are you okay?" Nanako asked anxiously. "You don't look too good, did you get carsick?"
Souji dismissed it, "Travel sickness, maybe…"
Dojima soon came back, after paying, his breath with a hint of tobacco, they left the station and began their journey back home.
"It is a welcome sight to see you again, I apologise if I had interrupted anything." Igor said, his cheshire grin unchanging. "Please, relax, we have something to discuss with you."
Nareta slumped back in the velvet seat and let out a drawn breath. "What exactly do you want this time?"
The steward chuckled. "Then you are aware…?"
"Of…?"
"The reason you are here."
"Nope." Nareta shrugged. "Should I?"
"Then do you know the reason for our existence?" Igor leaned over and clasped his hands together, folding his fingers over one another as he rested his chin on the crest.
"I saw you on the street before I boarded the train..." Nareta thought back, looking at the small glass table between them. "There was a table in front of you, much like this his one", and then looked up to at the host. "There were …cards…on there. And you took off a mask, a faceless one. That's when I saw you, but no…I do not know why you brought me... here or how."
"I apologise for the lack of a proper introduction. But we summoned you here. Rest assured - you are safe. In the real world, physically you are sleeping, but your mind is dreaming." Igor went on. "Although you are not a guest of this place by nature, you have been summoned here as a call for assistance."
"You need my help?"
"We usually do not interfere with such matters but we request your aid in assisting a young man with his 'journey'; no doubt that he will change the very fate of the people around him. You included."
Nareta rubbed his eye, "What do I do?" his delivery blunt.
"You are to guide him, if you will, be one of the lanterns that will shine a road along his path to find the truth."
Nareta paused for a moment to consider and sat back in the velvet-covered chair. It was slow at first, but a sudden cold feeling spread across his forehead - he shivered, touching where the felt cold.
"It seems we must continue this another time." And with the slightest gesture of his finger, Igor grinned. A strange blue mist clouded Nareta's vision, who then felt himself drift away. In the darkness, the cold ran across his face and crept down his neck, the masking haze soon dissipated and light-headedness followed. Wearily opening his eyes, his head lolled back onto the wall.
A dreary, wet sky of grey.
Shaking himself out of the daze Nareta then felt around for his bag. As he grabbed one of the handles, there was a small tug on the other end. Turning around, a furry creature met his eyes, sharp teeth latched on the other handle.
A fox.
It had a light brown fur coat that ended in tipped black ears and darker paws, a network of scars marred its body with some running over each other in a cross-shaped pattern. Chips of its ear were missing as if lost in some ferocious attack. However, despite the unfriendly appearance, albeit, a rather odd one was the peculiar frilly red pouch decorated with white hearts that it wore around its neck like an apron.
It released the handle and began walking toward him. Curiously, it sniffed him, nudging with its muzzle before tugging at his pants with its teeth, as if beckoning him to follow. Nareta got up, brushing himself off; he turned his head up toward the rafters and peeked out from under the roof toward a leaden sky. It would only seem to get darker.
The spot he had lain in was growing a dark patch, a leak in the roof allowed the stray drops to collect and fall on his head earlier. The fox nudged at his bag again, scratching it with interest before letting out a small yip.
"I don't have any food in there, my friend", Nareta smiled. As if understood, the fox ran around him and leapt up on its two hind legs howling, it bumped him with its head before running out past the gates. He looked out from the platform, past the gates and to the road on the other side - the fox sat straight up on the pavement, its bushy tail flopped up and down, tapping the sidewalk like the foot of an impatient commuter awaiting public transport.
Sighing, Nareta took off his coat and covered his bag then set off to trail the creature.
4/11Monday - Evening: Rain
Souji stood outside the Dojima residence taking in the surroundings of his new temporary home. The complex was surrounded by a wall of thick grey brick, with a lone red mailbox that stood out on the outside wall. It wasn't any bigger or smaller compared to any of the other houses around the neighbourhood, but there was a quaint feel to the place that made Souji's mind relax.
So…I'll be living here for a year, huh?
He noticed a bike that lay rested on the other wall, old and rusty, neglected and forgotten like a memory. The sliding door unlocked with a soft click as Ryotaro and Nanako went inside first. He could feel the touch of rain as it began to drizzle outside and he followed them in.
The three sat around the living room table as they settled in for dinner - a simple takeaway sushi meal they had bought along the way home. As they were about to pop open the lid of their freshly refrigerated drinks, Dojima began to speak.
"All right, let's have a toast." He nodded to himself and raised his cup of coffee, as did Nanako and Souji with their can of Soda. And with a sharp clink, each drank a sip with a satisfying breath. He turned to Souji with a solemn look in his eye, the side of his mouth pulled back into grimace. "So…" he began. " Your mom and dad are busy as always…They're working overseas this time, was it?" he sighed and shook his head. "I know it's only a year but getting stuck in a place like this because of your parents… It's rough being a kid."
Dojima turned to stare into his cup of coffee, a brief glimpse of a pained look in his eyes. Souji saw his face soften as he smirked and turned up towards his nephew, the slight gesture of his head toward Nanako. "Well, it's just me and Nanako here, so it'll be nice having someone like you around."
"So long as you're here, you're part of the family, so make yourself at home."
Souji felt the sincerity in his voice.
He tried to bring up the mood with enthusiasm. "Yes, sir! I'll do just that. Thank you for your kindness…" He saw Nanako who gave him a confused stare.
"Good. Well, anyway… let's eat." Dojima reached forward to grab his chopsticks. A vibration and suddenly three sharp beeps emanated from his pocket. A frustrated groan came out of Dojima, "Ugh…Who's calling at this hour?"
He dug around his pocket and pulled out the slim grey plastic. "…Dojima speaking." He said reluctantly. There was a small grunt as he replied to the speaker and he stood up. Strolling over to the kitchen area, he paused suddenly.
"Yeah? I see… So where is it?" There was another short pause before he answered. "All right, I'm on my way."
Dojima snapped his phone shut and sighed, lolling his head back for a short while before shoving his phone back into his pocket. "Looks like I made the right choice to skip the booze…" he mumbled to himself. He turned around to face his daughter and nephew, his face apologetic. "Sorry, but I gotta go take care of some business. Go ahead and eat without me," he instructed.
Nanako got up from her seat to object but Dojima raised a hand, gesturing her to sit down. "I don't know how late I'll be." Souji didn't know who it was directed at then Dojima looked at his daughter. "Nanako, you help him out, okay?" he assured her.
"…Okay." She said reluctantly. Souji watched as Dojima picked up his jacket that was draped over a chair and headed to the front door. He heard the drumming on the pavement and smelt the humid air.
"Nanako, it's raining out." His uncle's voice bounced off the wooden walls almost masked by the rumbling outside. "What did you do with the laundry!"
"I already brought it in." she shouted.
Dojima frowned and peered through the pouring rain. "…All right. Well, I'm off."
Souji heard the pop of an umbrella and the sliding door close as the house became silent. Nanako sat back down and stared at her plate. She glanced at her father's meal, a lonely droop in her shoulders. The TV flickered to a bright blue map with a lady pointing to small areas covered by clouds.
"—for this week. Next, let's take a look at the hourly breakdown of tomorrow's weather. With storm clouds moving in from the west, expect rain throughout the day tomorrow in most areas."
Nanako turned away from the screen and back to her meal. "…Let's eat."
Souji found himself sitting uneasily in silence; Nanako ate her meal without a word, seemingly in distress. The TV blared as it sat on the corner, noise echoed in the house as the two sat quietly watching it.
Souji broke the silence, "So, what does your dad do?"
She answered him without looking up. "He… investigates stuff. Like crime scenes." She looked up at him meeting his gaze. "My dad's a detective."
There was a sudden change in the tune from the TV and the image jumped from the bureau forecast to a news desk. The announcer at the desk spoke with a calm tone, an image materialised next to him. "And now for the local news. City council secretary Taro Namatame is under fire for an alleged relationship with a female reporter." The picture showed a man dressed in a dark business suit. He had slicked back black hair, a small neck and pale complexion - a guilty but confused look on his face.
How is this local news? Souji thought to himself.
The newscaster continued, the image changing to accompany his report. A woman dressed in a crimson kimono, hair pulled into a bun held back by a headband. She had white makeup on, painted red lips and delicate eyeshade. "His wife, enka ballad sensation Misuzu Hiiragi, revealed to this station that she will likely pursue damages. In response, Eye Television has decided to cancel all of announcer Mayumi Yamano's televised appearances."
Nanako yawned.
The image changed again, this time, a younger woman clothed in a simple dress shirt with short cropped hair, Souji assumed this was the reporter. "Until allegations of an affair with Mr. Namatame are resolved, she'll remain off the air and out of the public eye -"
"….This is boring." Nanako said glumly, she reached over to the remote and changed the channel. Her yawn turned into an excited gasp. There was a strange jingle and Nanako's face brightened.
It was a commercial and a voiceover in a cheery voice spoke, "At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products!"
A somewhat annoying jingle began to play and the announcer sung, "Every day's great at your Junes!" Nanako repeated without flaw and in tune. Souji was surprised at her sudden change in mood. His cousin turned to him, the smile still on her face. "Aren't you going to eat?"
"Oh yeah, forgot about that."
"Huh? You forgot to eat?' she giggled.
Souji smiled.
After finishing their meals and disposing it in the bin, Souji decided to head straight to bed. It was late into the night and he still didn't know where he would stay. Nanako pointed him to the room upstairs but remained seated in front of the television.
"Aren't you going to sleep?"
"Huh?" her pigtails bobbed as her head turned around. "Oh, after this."
She seems pretty responsible, he thought to himself.
Souji took a gander around the house and accustomed himself to his new home. The Dojima house was a normal two-storey wooden Japanese-styled home; on the ground floor, two bedrooms and a bathroom on one side, with a kitchen and hall that comprised the living room on the other, split by the difference in floor textures, the kitchen with its laminated wood floor and the hall's rugged layer. The living room contained a large sliding door that led to the garden outside. The kitchen table was littered with newspapers and files, which Souji guessed was his uncle's territory.
He wandered over to the fridge and pulled the door open. It was empty inside, save for a bowl of white rice and a jug of milk. Absently, he reached in and took a grain of rice from the bowl. Put it in his mouth and got up.
Cold.
Picking his bag up from the floor near the entrance and strolled up the stairs. Where above was a spare room - which Souji would live in for the year.
Coming down off the hilltop and gravel road, Nareta felt each drop of rain as it fell his face. The sky of infinite darkness, not a star, nor a sliver of moon could pass through the shrouds above. The fox scurried ahead and waited again. The road, marked by dimly lit streetlights cast an unusual yellow light that threatened to expose the ephemeral, growing fog.
A sound, louder than the incessant rain or his shivering breath, a roar, and Nareta could feel the change of texture to grass in his steps, as he descended toward it. A river in black lay before him; he raised an eyebrow at the fox before it led him off in another direction. His footsteps squelching with every step, Nareta could see the river had begun to overflow the area. As it rose, above and over the man-made canal, it poured itself onto the soil where he stood.
Spying a small pavilion near the final stretch of the flood plain, Nareta and the fox took refuge under its roof till the rain would give them a brief respite. After making their way across a small bridge to the other side, he could almost make out the small glowing orbs of light, from what he guessed were houses. Barely, he could make out a small gas station and several stores that lined the streets, hanging on many of the front doors – read the sign 'Out of Business'.
The door swung open with a tiny creak as Souji came in, his hands searched the wall for a switch and flicked it up. The room flashed and flickered before illuminating in a weak shade of yellow, before confidently changing to a pale white.
Souji took in his new room, nothing extravagant, simple – the way he preferred to live temporarily.
To his left lined up against the wall; a wooden wardrobe and a bookshelf with a miniature TV that lay on top. To his right, a woollen maroon loveseat, a small desk and tucked away under it, a futon. He set down his bag on the loveseat and made his way to the TV, running a finger along the black plastic he lifted it to see it finely coated in dust. It seemed like it hadn't been used in a number of years, Souji glanced around, guessing the entire room was the same.
Nareta followed the fox, watching as it darted form cover to cover protected from the falling rain, a red streak following the dash of brown. Whether or not it was wise to follow it, Nareta felt inclined to do so, like as if the fox was leading him to some unknown destination, which only it knew. The light haze that covered the street was eerie, unnatural almost, like as if it were some living entity.
He continued down the foggy path, almost colliding into large board that appeared in front of him. The road begun to turn off to the left but the fox thought otherwise, slowly moving their way through the thickened fog, the fox suddenly sat itself straight on the sidewalk on the opposite street, below a huge looming figure.
The fox watched nonchalantly as Nareta came closer, casually swishing its tail as it waited. It was dark crimson in colour but Nareta mused at the structure, oddly reminiscent of an entrance to the underworld. But as he approached, he could recognise the figure of a torii gate, with its two uprights palings and two crosspieces that lay rested on top. Between the arch where the fox sat, ran a new path off the pavement; from gravel rock to mossy stone, it winded upwards to a small knoll - hidden within the canopy of the trees and shrouds of roaring clouds above, lay a building from long ago left in its forgotten splendour.
An ancient shrine.
Taking shelter underneath the rafters, the incessant rain drummed against the tin roof. Looking toward the black sky, his clothes clung to his skin like liquid ice, but he paid no attention. Next to him, the fox shook itself off and sneezed, wandering around till it found itself a dry spot in which it curled up and fell asleep. Nareta watched the fox for a while, before shuffling back against the wall to do the same.
Souji walked to the front of the desk and crouched down to unfold the futon. He looked through the blinds and opened the window, letting the sound of applauding rain fill his ears. He sighed, tired from exhaustion, he lazily fell on the futon and groaned.
He lay in his uniform, arms behind his head beneath the soft pillow. Souji stared at the ceiling, watching as the shadows danced from the streetlights passing through the blinds. He closed his eyes, the thoughts of his new home and for a while, the preparation for his next day of school ran through his head.
Then slowly resigned himself to sleep.
I think it's best if I tell you now, but I might not be updating until the end of the year - exams are coming!
Anyway, please rate and review!
Cheers, have fun and have a good day!
~Everae~