Chapter 7: Summer Vacation and unexpected encounters. The mystery of the Witch's Knott.
For those who were expecting Jin's past to be revealed, I'm planning to deal with the Witch's Knott arc before dealing with Jin's past. I do not own anything from both series.
In the newspaper club, everyone was busy creating newspaper of the latest news and gossip. Jin and Tsukune were writing the articles. Mizore and Moka helped them while Kurumu and Yukari provided notes of what they heard from local gossips. Their activities were halted when Shizuka went inside. She looked very excited and jovial.
"Everyone! I have surprising news for us all. We're heading to the human world for the summer." She stated.
Everyone was surprised of what they heard. However, Tsukune showed more surprise than anyone. Jin had an impassive expression, but he was excited.
'Going back to the human world... I hope nothing goes wrong when we all go there…' Jin thought.
'That's right...! It's summer vacation! I was so focused with academics and Moka that I barely had time to think of it...! I hope the others will feel comfortable.' Tsukune thought.
Tsukune recalled what Moka said to him. The memory made him shiver, and he didn't want to be reminded of it.
"I hate humans... It's due to their destructive nature that I was bullied from them. They ostracized me, making me feel lonely and hurt. I told them of what I am truthfully, but they treated me like a plague."
Tsukune shook his head to remove the feeling. He looked at Moka in concern, who remained silent. All the girls, except for Mizore, were silent about the trip. Oddly, Jin was as well. He merely sighed in a lethargic tone.
######
(Play Shiki OST Epitaph)
The next morning, Jin was waiting on his own at the bus stop. He was wearing a deep blue t-shirt, black jeans, and blue-white sneakers. He kept an impassive gaze to the open sea that was glowing with a dull, crimson color. He was wondering what place the vacation would be.
'I wonder where we'll go... After being here in this place that has made me used to the presence of yokai, it's making me homesick. Plus, my friends are wondering about my past... Is it ok for me to reveal what I've seen...? The horrible nightmares that have plagued me to this day?' He thought in question.
Before he could think of anything, Mizore appeared. She was wearing a pale blue sundress with snowflake designs. She was wearing blue sneakers. Her gaze was towards his eyes. It made her appearance look more angelic.
"Good morning, Jin-kun." She greeted.
"Good morning, Mizore-san." Jin replied.
Mizore made a cute pout and walked up to Jin.
"Please call me 'Mizore-chan'. I like it if you call me that way." she said.
"O-ok, Mizore-chan." Jin stuttered.
Immediately upon hearing Jin's voice calling her name affectionately, Mizore shivered. Her heart started to race as a noticeable blush appeared on her cheeks.
"I like it how you say my name like that." She said with a smile.
Jin blushed as Mizore went up to him and hugged him close. Her icy skin didn't cause any form of discomfort to Jin. He then hugged Mizore closely. This made her squeal for a second. She then noticed him holding her like he was afraid to lose her.
"I'm sorry if I hadn't responded to your feelings as of yet... I've been debating on something." He said.
"What is it that have you been thinking, Jin-kun?" Mizore asked.
(Epitaph OST ends here)
Mizore was moving closer to him. It looked as though she would almost kiss his lips. Before Jin could answer Mizore's question, Moka and Tsukune arrived. They took notice of Jin and Mizore.
Moka was wearing a beautiful, yellow-white sundress. It made her skin glow in the sunlight. She was wearing white shoes. Tsukune was wearing a green t-shirt, brown shorts and gray sneakers.
"Good morning you two." Moka shouted.
"Good morning." Jin and Mizore responded in unison.
Jin and Mizore looked away in embarrassment. Tsukune and Moka noticed the couple feeling embarrassed. They decided to give them some breathing space.
"Ne, Tsukune... I hope we have a great time in the human world." Moka said, leaning on to Tsukune's shoulder.
Tsukune blushed as Moka leaned comfortably on him. This made Tsukune see her relaxed face. He didn't want to outright see her chest.
'She looks so cute with a relaxed face... I hope it was worth going into the human world.' Tsukune thought.
######
Jin and Mizore were staring at the horizon. They gave Tsukune and Moka some privacy for themselves.
"It's a nice view, isn't it Jin-kun?" Mizore asked.
"It is... The mountains back in the human world always brought a beautiful view to see." Jin answered.
Mizore smiled from hearing his answer. She leaned closer to him, grabbing his palm. Their fingers intertwined, making the couple stare at their eyes. Azure looked into azure, reading each other's feelings. Mizore slowly went closer to Jin. Before she could kiss him, Kurumu and Yukari appeared.
(Play Shiki OST Crimson)
"Yahoo-hoo, its summer vacation." Kurumu said jovially.
By then, Yukari noticed the couples looking intimate. She made a childish pout, inflating her cheeks.
"Hmmm...? You four have been awfully close, aren't you?" She questioned.
The two couples didn't answer. Moka and Tsukune laughed nervously while Jin and Mizore blushed red. By then, everyone noticed someone else coming towards them.
"Glad to see that you passed your exams, Gin." Jin said.
"Thanks. I'm surprised you show some concern for me, Jin-san." Gin remarked.
"Don't push it. I still haven't forgiven you from your attempted stunt, but it isn't a good event for you to go into remedial lessons." Jin said.
Gin chuckled from Jin's speech. He took notice of Jin's aura. It looked calmer than before.
'Mizore is helping Jin recover from his past. Hopefully it'll rid his inability to express emotions…' Gin thought.
The school bus showed up with Shizuka riding at the front section.
(Crimson OST ends here)
"Hi everyone! We're heading out to a beach at the human world. We'll stay there for at least 5 days till we go to another area." She said.
'The beach is fine for me, but I wonder what other place Nekonome-sensei has in mind.' Jin questioned in his thoughts.
"Climb aboard, everyone." The bus driver said.
Everyone got on board the bus. Tsukune was with Moka, while Jin was with Mizore. Kurumu was with Yukari. Gin sat behind Kurumu and Yukari.
######
The bus travelled through a dimensional portal. A rainbow of colors akin to a kaleidoscope flashed across the horizon. The flashing colors made Tsukune a bit dizzy, but he didn't suffer from epileptic attacks.
'I'll never get used to flashing lights this strong.' Tsukune thought.
Eventually, a bright flash of light blinded everyone. The flash obscured their sight for a few seconds.
######
The light began to slowly disappear. From the flash, a familiar neighborhood was brought into view. Tsukune and Jin recognized the area.
'This place…' Tsukune immediately thought.
'The whole area…' Jin continued in thought.
'This is our home.' They thought simultaneously.
"I'm home!" Tsukune shouted in enthusiasm.
Jin merely shook his head, knowing Tsukune would give hints of being a human. Moka was surprised and concerned. Everyone else, save for Gin, Shizuka and the bus driver noticed.
(Play Shiki OST Muddy Water)
"You sound like a human for a moment, Tsukune-kun." Kurumu commented.
Tsukune and Moka tried to think of a reasonable explanation, even if it was a white lie. However, Jin decided to speak.
"It's because he lived here in this neighborhood for a while. He has been feeling a bit homesick." Jin said.
Truthfully, Tsukune was surprised that Jin would fabricate such a well-thought out excuse. To top it off, he was surprised on how his next door neighbor was able to deduce his homesickness with a simple glance.
"Is that so? I guess it isn't much of an issue since he knows about the human world. But how did you know that Tsukune lives here?" Kurumu asked.
'How profound to ask such a question…' Jin thought.
"Other than his shouting upon seeing the area, I'm Tsukune's next door neighbor." Jin answered.
Everyone was shocked of what they heard.
"You live near Tsukune's house...!? When were you going to tell us!?" Yukari questioned with surprise.
"I was planning to right now." Jin retorted.
"Hahahaha... Quite a way to retort to people." Gin laughed.
Yukari, pouting angrily, sent a wash basin on Gin's head, knocking him out cold.
"He's gonna need a few ice packs after he wakes up." Jin commented.
Everyone laughed from the joke. Jin briefly snorted, but he quickly hid his smile by drinking tomato juice.
######
The bus pulled over to a large beach. Several camping tents were laid, suggesting the area was a public beach and a camping site. The group was heading towards a spot to set up camp. They liked a particular spot, near a smooth path leading up to a nearby cliff.
Gin, Tsukune, and Jin were fixing everyone's tent.
"Why do we have to set up camp in for everyone?" Gin complained.
"It's a man's job to attend to their girl's needs. Quit wasting your energy of complaining and help us fix up the camp." Jin said.
"The sooner we get everything set up, the sooner we can have fun in the beach." Tsukune retorted.
Gin sighed, but he relented. In a few minutes, the camp was finally done. The boys began to change into their swimsuits. Jin brought a new swimming trunk, consisting of a deep, blue color on top, which brightened to a sky blue. He was wearing his blue t-shirt. Tsukune was wearing a navy colored swimming trunk with white accents. Gin was wearing a grey, red swimming trunks.
"Jin, why don't you take your shirt off? No sense in hiding yourself." Gin commented.
Jin shook his head. By then, the girls appeared. Mizore was wearing a striped, lavender-white bikini. Kurumu was wearing a black, daring bikini. Moka was wearing a one-piece, white swimsuit. Yukari was wearing also wearing a one-piece swimsuit, but it was blue in color.
The girls took notice of the guys in the swimsuits. What caught their attention was Jin, who was still wearing his t-shirt. Mizore understood why he was wearing his t-shirt and felt a bit depressed.
(Play Shiki OST Eau de Vie)
Gin then decided to pull Jin's shirt off. Immediately, he pulled his shirt back down.
"I rather keep my t-shirt on…" Jin said with discomfort.
"You don't have to be embarrassed with anything, Jin. You're with guys and girls." Gin said.
"I said, I'll keep my shirt on." Jin said with a hint of anger.
Gin relented. Tsukune decided to brighten the mood through a suggestion.
"Come on, guys. It's summer vacation. Let's play some volleyball to enjoy ourselves." Tsukune said.
Everyone agreed to Tsukune's idea. The group formed a heptagon and started playing volleyball. It looked like a tough competition though. Comically, Kurumu intercepted Yukari's position to pass the ball. This led to a showdown between them, which nearly got excessive.
"Would you two stop acting like kids?" Jin said in a frightful tone.
In emphasis of his tone, ice surrounded them in a group of small spires. Kurumu and Yukari quickly apologized, seeing Jin's eyes turning dark.
######
Shizuka was at a restaurant, eating fish. She meowed in pleasure.
"Hah... I really love the fish here in the human world, nya." She said happily.
######
Jin was relaxing at the beach by himself. He was staring out at the horizon, sitting on the sand. His momentary peace was disrupted when Mizore came next to him. She had a worried look.
"Jin-kun, are you feeling ok?" She asked in concern.
"I'm fine, Mizore-chan. Just thinking about old times." He said solemnly.
Mizore scooted closer to Jin. She was leaning on his shoulder in comfort.
"Aren't Yuki-Onna supposed to live in cold climates?" Jin asked curiously.
"It's true about our nature. However, this lollipop that I have helps keep our bodies cool." Mizore explained.
"That would explain why you almost always have that. At least it helps you deal with your issue with the heat." Jin said.
Mizore looked at his face, which appeared strained.
(Play Shiki OST Day and Night)
The wind blew across his face. It wasn't a harsh gust. The breeze was smooth, something Jin could quickly recall.
"I understand why you kept your shirt on... You're trying to hide your scars, preventing us to know about you." Mizore deduced.
Jin nodded. His sclera turned black again, but his irises glowed with a bright blue color. A single tear was shown coming from his right eye.
"I know you've seen my scars, but that was when I was human that I received the scars. I don't want to divulge much into my past." He said.
(Day and Night OST ends here)
Mizore hugged him closely, trying to alleviate his pain. By then, a familiar figure was heading to the beach, reading a familiar book. Jin immediately took notice of the man's silver hair. He started to hyperventilate, knowing who the man was.
"M-Muroi Seishin... How…!?" Jin questioned in shock.
Seishin heard the voice and turned to see Jin. He noticed Jin, who was approaching him.
"Sora Jin...? You're alive as well?" Seishin asked in shock.
"I am, but how are you still alive...? I saw you bleed to death back in our home…" Jin questioned.
"I recalled hearing about your death. Yet, you looked as though you haven't died." Seishin said.
(Play Shiki OST Memento Mori)
"Then that means... You're a jinrou as well, aren't you?" Jin questioned.
"Yes... I could say the same for you." Seishin retorted.
Mizore noticed the tension growing thicker, despite the calm exchange of words. Reluctant, she decided to bring her friends.
"Give me a reason why I shouldn't attack you." Jin said with barely contained rage.
Seishin sighed. He began to explain his reasons.
"Before I died, my family and I took notice of the shiki massacre happening in Sotoba. I'm certain you witnessed the occurrence." Seishin said.
"I have... I saw what happened." Jin said, shaking in recalling what happened.
Seishin noticed Jin shaking and appeared to be in fright.
"The villagers went mad, invading my home. I was barely conscious due to blood loss when I was with the Kirishikis." He continued.
"You were providing your blood to them?" Jin questioned in anger.
Seishin merely ignored him and continued explaining.
"A young girl named Sunako was the one whom I was feeding to. Her concept of life and death was similar to mine." He said.
Jin was shaking his fist in anger. By the time Tsukune and everyone came, the tension was very thick.
"Let me finish my explanation. Sunako was a tragic girl, seeking a means to find a family for herself. It was her idea to create a 'town of shiki' back in Sotoba." Seishin said.
Upon hearing Seishin's explanation, everyone pondered what happened to Sotoba Village. The pieces of Jin's past was slowly coming together.
"Tell me... What happened to your family?" Jin asked.
"My family was killed. My father was turned into a shiki and was given a peaceful death. My mother, on the other hand, was brutally murdered by the villagers. I couldn't stand it so I decided to leave Sotoba with Sunako." Seishin said.
"That would explain why you hold such resentment. You're more assertive and violent." Jin deduced.
"Yeah... The people who were once our friends became insane, hunting down any shiki or jinrou. Anyone siding with the shiki were killed indiscriminately. My mother and caretakers in the temple were killed by Tomio and some followers. I heard the ransacking in my own home. I saw my mother's corpse, stabbed." Seishin said.
Jin was shaking in anger, recalling some survivors almost attempting to kill him. His eyes turned black with a red glow. Seishin's eyes also turned black with a red glow. Tsukune and the others noticed Seishin's eyes and were shocked.
"He's...like Jin, a jinrou." Tsukune said in shock.
"To think there's another one of his kind... Yet, Jin looks distressful. He's ready to attack at the slightest moment." Mizore said in concern.
(Memento Mori OST ends here)
"Oh yes... How's Yasumori doing? I noticed she was able to walk in the sunlight." Seishin asked.
Jin's anger grew. Ice began to form on his feet. He calmed down, not wanting to cause a scene.
"Yasumori-san is doing ok. If you're wondering why she is able to walk outside in the sun, I made her drink my blood, causing her to turn into a jinrou." Jin said.
Seishin immediately stood up in surprise.
"A jinrou's blood can turn a shiki to jinrou!? That means she can live relatively normal!" Seishin stated.
"Yeah... I figured if she couldn't walk out during daylight, then she would have to be like me. I gave her my blood so she would become a jinrou. She didn't deserve such cruelty." Jin said with sympathy.
Seishin made a faint smile. He related to Jin's sympathy of Nao to his sympathy for Sunako.
"You may have changed for the worst, but you still have your protective drive to help others." Seishin commented.
"Yeah... I haven't changed on some parts, but things have been dark for me... Nothing but nightmares and despair." Jin said with an emotionless tone.
Seishin felt pitiful for the young jinrou. He then placed a calming hand on his left shoulder.
"You have been tortured by what you saw throughout Sotoba, haven't you?" He questioned.
Jin nodded his head, confirming Seishin's question.
(Play Shiki OST Requiem)
"Damn it all... I never chose to become what I am... All I wished was a normal life... Why did the Kirishikis come to Sotoba for their selfish wishes?" Jin questioned in sorrow.
Seishin watched the jinrou losing his spirit. He felt guilty, seeing Jin in such a sorrowful state.
"Jin, I know it isn't my right to say regarding about our current life... We both had faced our tragic losses... However, you have to move on from your past. Your friends look as though you haven't taught them what you are, especially about your past... You'll have to talk with them about it." Seishin said in wisdom.
Jin remained silent for some time. His friends looked at him with worry and concern. Mizore went up to him and grabbed her hand. She then placed it on her cheek. A cold, wet feeling was touching Jin's hand. He took notice and saw Mizore crying. Her tears were touching his hand. A painful ache encroached Jin's chest.
"I'll explain about my past to you all someday... But now's not the right time." Jin said.
Everyone casted a smile to Jin. They all realize how his past caused such a significance to him.
(Requiem OST ends here)
######
It was nighttime. The newspaper club were attending their camps. Shizuka returned, having a large pail of fish.
'So that's what she was doing... She probably came here to get a snack for herself.' Everyone thought comically.
"Hey... Where's Jin and Mizore?" Tsukune asked.
######
Jin was watching the sea, lost in thought. He didn't sense Mizore's presence as he looked at the view with the moon shining brightly. By then, Mizore held on to his back.
"Sorry if I spooked you, Jin-kun. Are you feeling ok?" Mizore asked.
"I'm feeling fine... Just lost in nostalgia." Jin said.
"Are you sure? You don't seem to want to talk about what you were referring when we left to the human world." Mizore asked.
Jin had a brief nervous look. He had no choice but to discuss about it.
"Mizore-chan... I was about to talk to you about my past, but I decided not to. It's something I have yet to deal with." Jin said.
"I understand that you don't want to talk about it. Give it some time so we all can hear about your story." Mizore said, smiling.
She then hugged Jin closely. The sea breeze fluttered to them, causing their hair to move elegantly.
######
Tsukune was resting, watching the horizon through the sea. He was stargazing, feeling comfortable to see the starry sky. His stargazing activity didn't let him notice Moka approaching him. She sat down near him.
"Hey Tsukune. What are you doing away from the campsite?" Moka asked.
"Oh, Moka-san... I was stargazing for a bit, thinking of the recent events." He said.
"What events?" Moka asked.
Tsukune felt pressured to answer, but he reluctantly agreed to do so.
"Moka-san... I'm mainly concerned for my next door neighbor. I haven't seen him do much except set up the campsite here. He barely went out for a swim and played volleyball for at least a minute." Tsukune said.
Moka knew that Tsukune was trying to help Jin overcome his emotionless problem, but to no avail.
"Don't feel so pessimistic, Tsukune. You're doing what you can to make sure he's doing ok." Moka said, reassuring him.
He smiled from hearing Moka's encouraging words. Moka briefly looked at Jin.
'Jin-san, Mizore's been attracted to you since we first met. Despite your emotional detachment of the world, you still care for others... I've seen your actions, despite your breakdowns…' Moka thought in concern.
######
Jin noticed Mizore moved her hand to his face. She slowly made her head closer and claimed his lips. This shocked Jin so much, he couldn't think of anything. A shocked expression marred his face. Mizore giggled from seeing his shocked face.
"W-was that your first kiss?" Mizore asked cutely.
Jin could only nod. This made her smile as she hugged him close. Jin, unable to understand the emotional feeling he was experiencing, was in shock.
'What is this feeling...? Why do I feel so calm? I don't understand why, but her kiss... It feels...soothing…' Jin thought.
Mizore noticed Jin who was very quiet.
"Could it be that you never fell in love with a girl?" She asked in surprise.
Jin nodded, regaining his emotionless expression.
"I never fell in love with a girl before... I didn't had much of an interest in relationships... When I turned into a jinrou, I didn't want to seek a girlfriend at all." He explained.
"But why wouldn't you find a girl that you like?" Mizore questioned.
"Have you forgotten that I'm a monster right now?" Jin asked with an emotionless tone.
Mizore realized what he meant and felt sorry for him. She hugged him close, letting her head lean on his chest. Jin, on instinct, held her close to him.
######
An hour passed as Jin and Mizore walked back to the camp, holding hands. The newspaper club looked at the couple and smiled.
'It's about time that Jin and Mizore are growing close. I was beginning to wonder what's holding him back.' Yukari thought.
'Glad to see that their bond is growing. Hopefully, whatever comes to them won't strain their relationship.' Tsukune thought.
The newspaper club decided to talk about everyday life.
"Ne Jin-kun, what do you plan to become later on?" Mizore asked.
(Play Shiki OST Mosiac)
Jin remained silent for a few seconds. He decided to talk of what he wanted to become.
"I planned to join the medical field... I wished to become a doctor." He answered.
"Wow... Quite an ambition you're desiring. But what did you mean that you 'wished'?" Gin asked.
"My desires for the future have ended since I was pronounced dead last year in Sotoba." He said.
"Wait... You died once, but you're still alive?" Moka said.
"While true, but you're also wrong. You see, the way my kind propagate is slightly different from traditional vampire movies." Jin said cryptically.
"How so?" Tsukune asked.
"One bite is all it takes to essentially mark you as their victim. It produces a hypnotic effect, basically making you a puppet. Once that happens, subsequent bites will cause the victim to develop anemia-like symptoms which grow severe. The victim may be able to recover, so long as the person is not bitten every day. However, prolonged biting on the victim will drain the person dry, killing them via blood loss." Jin explained.
Everyone was shocked of what they heard. Mizore even more so.
"Is that why you battle your own bloodlust to the point you threaten your life?" she asked with worry.
Jin nodded. He felt terrible seeing Mizore's face.
"It's something I don't want to share about. I've been trying to find substitutes for blood to counter my hunger for it. Before coming to Yokai Academy, I often head towards the mountain sides at night, killing and feeding on wild dog's blood." he said.
"Wait, you tried to curb your thirst through animal blood? Has this proven effective for you?" Moka asked.
Unknown to everyone, the rosary was glowing, allowing Inner Moka to listen to the conversation.
"The animal blood was able to curb my thirst temporarily, but it was able to make my life somewhat functional. All I could say is, the blood was bland, as someone mentioned in the book, Twilight, like tofu. However, each time I hunt, I realize that I'm slowly losing what's left of my humanity, making me more of a monster." Jin explained.
"I noticed that you been drinking a lot of tomato juice. Since you have been drinking it frequently, you haven't been experiencing any problems." Moka commented.
"The tomato juice helps curb my hunger so I can at least maintain my strength. Although it is not blood, it's very appealing for any vampiric creature." Jin said.
(Mosiac OST ends here)
(Play Shiki OST Requiem)
"Whoa... Sounds as though you've been struggling with your second life." Kurumu said solemnly.
"More than struggle... I'm trying to regain what's left of my humanity. I told you all countless times that I never wanted to become what I am. Not only am I threat to the human world, I'm also a creature whose life has been condemned to everlasting pain till the day I die a second time." Jin said with a melancholy tone.
Everyone felt the revelation from Jin's explanation. Mizore hugged him closely, trying to relieve him from his pessimism.
"Now you know why I'm distant with the people I meet. I don't want anyone to deal with what I become." Jin said.
Gin, who was feeling bad for him, felt depressed of hearing a young man barely reaching his late teens contemplating death. It made him sick to the point he wished that he could reverse what happened to Jin.
Inner Moka felt pitiful for the jinrou. She casted an understanding look to Jin, knowing what it means to be robbed of what a person lost.
(Requiem OST ends here)
Everyone began to feel tired and fell asleep. Outside the camp, a figure was spying on the camp. She took notice of Yukari, who was entering the tent.
"There's no mistake about it... That girl is like me, a witch. I need to report this to my master…" The figure said.
######
Above the campsite was a cliff, which had a field of sunflowers blooming. A large mansion was at the site, where it was in the middle of the sunflower field. The mansion was an imposing sight for anyone. Inside the mansion, was a girl, who kneeling to another figure. The second figure was wearing a dark robe that exposed little of her face. Age hasn't been friendly for the second figure, making her appear almost old, due to wrinkles.
"Ruby, I want you to acquire this young witch and make her join us. Do what you can to make sure she does. If those stragglers hinder your progress, dispose of them immediately." The figure said.
"Yes, My Lady." Ruby said.
######
The next morning, Jin woke up early and took off to the beach. Mizore, not feeling Jin's presence, decided to head outside. She noticed Jin, who was wearing his swimsuit without his t-shirt on, taking a dip into the water. She then smiled and followed along, changing into her swimsuit and went inside the water. None of the newspaper club members noticed Mizore or Jin missing.
Jin was swimming underwater. He felt relieved to essentially swim in the water.
'Although I shouldn't enjoy this, I still have much to see at a young age... The world I knew of back in my home was cruel... I wish it was all a dream.' He thought.
While Jin was swimming underwater, he noticed a figure swimming gracefully. Upon closer inspection, it was Mizore, who was swimming nearby. She smiled, seeing Jin swimming in the water. Both then went to the surface to catch their breath.
"Mizore-chan... You followed me into the water?" Jin asked in surprise.
"Yes. I noticed you were gone from the tent so I looked around and saw you about to swim." Mizore answered.
Jin looked away blushing. Mizore took the chance to hug him while smiling.
######
Back in the camp, the rest of the newspaper club woke up from their sleep. Tsukune and Moka took notice of Mizore and Jin's absence. They began searching for them till Kurumu noticed them in the water near the cliff side. She smiled, seeing the couple swimming together.
"Oh... Those two are becoming more romantic with each other... Might as well let them have their fun." Kurumu said.
Kurumu went to the newspaper club to inform them.
"Oh. So they went to have a quick dip in the water." Gin said.
Yukari summoned a wash bowl, which fell on his head. The impact knocked him unconscious.
"Leaving Gin's comment aside, I think they're getting along quite well." Tsukune said.
"I agree. I've known Mizore for a while but I never seen her so open before. She looks more happy than usual." Moka said.
######
Jin and Mizore were heading back to the shore. They quickly took notice of the newspaper club seeing them. Immediately, Jin retreated into the water quickly, swimming deep underwater.
"Jin, where are you going?" Mizore called.
Mizore received no response. She was concerned of his behavior, knowing he doesn't want to expose his scars.
"What's wrong with him...? First he doesn't want to go into the water, now he doesn't want to come out... What's up with him?" Gin asked.
"I don't know but he looked like he was hiding something." Tsukune said, staring at Jin's last position.
######
Jin resurfaced near a rocky cliff. He swam his way up to the shore and hid there. He created a coating of ice to cover his torso. Mizore noticed Jin creating an icy covering.
"Jin, you know that you'll have to reveal about your past... You won't be able to hide for long." Mizore said.
"I know... However, I don't want people knowing about my cursed past. Whatever's in the past shouldn't be brought back to the present." Jin explained coldly.
Mizore was somewhat worried of his lone wolf attitude. It made her feel depressed.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Kurumu swam up to them. Immediately, Jin made the coat of ice look brighter, obscuring his body.
"There you two are. We've been trying to get your attention to come to shore." She said with a huff.
"Sorry, but I didn't realize that." Jin said emotionlessly.
Kurumu noticed the ice surrounding his torso.
"Why are you covering your body with an armor of ice? The humans would notice our supernatural abilities…" Kurumu warned.
"They'll think it's a shiny towel from a distance. The ice I used is malleable, allowing me to shape it more fluidly." Jin said.
Upon saying that, the icy armor turned into a towel, making it look like one.
"Alright, but make sure you don't cause a commotion... We don't want any trouble here." Kurumu said.
Jin nodded. Mizore was surprised on how skilled he was with his ice abilities. He can create malleable ice without much strain. What's worse is the skill that would tire out most Yuki-Onna, even if they were well-trained.
"How can you create malleable ice?" Mizore asked.
"Ever since I was practicing these powers." Jin answered.
Mizore nodded but she wanted to know more of Jin. His background was a mystery of its own.
######
(Play Shiki OST Eau de Vie)
By then, Jin got off of the rocky shore, still wearing his ice armor like a towel. He quickly made his way to the camp and quickly dried himself. With quick speed, he put on his t-shirt. Mizore followed along with him.
'Hope no one saw my exposed back…' Jin thought.
Unfortunately, Kurumu accidentally stumbled upon Jin getting his t-shirt on. She briefly saw one of his scars but didn't had the chance to see it clearly.
'What was that...? For a minute I thought I saw a grievous scar. I hope it was my imagination…' Kurumu thought in concern.
Jin noticed Kurumu, who had a brief, shocked expression. Immediately, he created a wall of ice in front of her. His eyes were blackened.
"Do not attempt to anyone about my scars. I'm tired of people trying to know about my past. Enough is enough." Jin growled.
Kurumu nodded in a fearful response. Jin then made the wall melt, along with switching his eyes back to normal. She took notice of Mizore, who was guilt ridden.
"He's sensitive of himself, if not, his life. Don't ask him anything of his mood." Mizore said to Kurumu in a somber tone.
She nodded from Mizore.
(Eau de Vie OST ends here)
By then, Jin took notice of a field of sunflowers growing at the nearby cliff of the campsite. Tsukune, who noticed Jin staring at the cliff, decided to look as well. Shizuka noticed the boots looking at the cliff with curiosity.
(Play Shiki OST Day and Night)
"You know, I heard rumors about this place from the humans. Rumors tell about the violent history of the hill. They say anyone that enters the field will disappear or die horrifically. Rumors also come from some surviving witnesses that claim to see a sorceress in the area. The people who saw this being gave the area Tsukune name, 'Witch's Hill" she explained.
"How come I see some construction vehicles near the site?" Jin asked in curiosity.
"The area was supposed to be a local beach diner. However, because of the mysterious deaths, construction was halted in fear of losing their workers." Shizuka answered.
Jin, now curious of the place, decided to take a peek. Tsukune followed along with him.
######
Mizore and Moka looked for Tsukune till they noticed Shizuka nearby.
"Nekonome-sensei, where are Jin and Tsukune?" Mizore asked.
"They left to see the sunflowers up on this cliff." She said pointing to the pathway that leads up to the cliff.
(Day and Night OST ends here)
######
The boys were up at the cliff side, seeing a large field of sunflowers. From a distance, they saw a couple that wandered nearby.
"Oh no... We shouldn't wander here"… A girl said.
"What do you mean?" A boy asked.
"This is the so-called Witch's Hill. It's notorious for its mysterious deaths that occur to those who damage the fields." The girl answered.
(Play Shiki OST Pendulum)
Before the young couple realized it, a root of thorns ensnared them on their legs. They were dragged while screaming for help. Jin and Tsukune tracked the sound to where the couple was, only to find a large blood smear. No remains of the couple, save for a large pool of blood was shown. By then, a human hand was thrown near at the pool, leaving only up to its wrist.
Tsukune was frozen with a scared look. He felt very queasy to the point he hurled at a nearby tree. Jin, on the other hand, was shaking. He collapsed on his knees and screamed loudly, experiencing a flashback.
-Flashback-
A loud screaming was heard on Sotoba. A woman with pastry white skin and black hair was being staked alive. Her screams were bloodcurdling, causing Jin to collapse on his legs. Blood sprayed on his face. He took notice of Dr. Toshio, who was leading the humans against the woman.
Jin was so scared, he was frozen in fear. He couldn't take the sight of it at all.
-Flashback ends-
(Pendulum OST ends here)
######
While the rest of the newspaper club was at the camp, they heard a loud familiar scream. Instantly, they knew who it was. Moka and Mizore, who were near the field of sunflowers heard the scream loudly.
"That scream...! It's from Jin!" Mizore said.
"We have to get to him! Something must've happened!" Moka said.
Meanwhile, back in the camp, the newspaper club raced to the cliff as quick as possible. They caught up with Moka and Mizore, eventually finding Tsukune and Jin. They took notice of the pool of blood and the human hand on the grass.
"W-what happened here…?" Gin asked in slight fear.
Tsukune slowly got up. His recent hurling left him weak.
"There was a human couple that we heard nearby. They were dragged by something in this place. We don't know what it was, but it outright killed them…" Tsukune said weakly.
Everyone looked at Jin, who was shaking uncontrollably. Mizore quickly hugged him to calm his shaking. His breathing was also strained.
That's all from here. The next chapter will deal with the introduction of Ruby.