Chapter 9: The Woman in the Noh Mask

Nagisa was taken aback by her friend's words, and tears continued to stream down her face. A stray tear fell on Nagisa's lip. Tamao reached up and brushed the tear away. Nagisa thought about how to reply to Tamao. "Nagisa, tell me what you need and I will give it to you."

"T-Tamao-chan…I don't know what I need," she tried.

"Shhh," Tamao said, again placing her soft index finger on Nagisa's lips.

She sat Nagisa down on her bed, then kneeled on the floor, resting her arms on Nagisa's knees. "I know what Nagisa needs," she said softly, looking up at her. "I will make a big bubble bath for you."

With that, Tamao reached for Nagisa's tie and began to pull the material through its loop.

"Tamao-chan!" Nagisa pulled away, "I just got dressed. And besides, a bubble bath would make me late for class."

Tamao explained to her that it was better to have a relaxing bath now, and miss one class, than to have to miss the entire day because she couldn't relax and stop crying.

Nagisa finally relented, but insisted on taking her own clothes off. Tamao rushed into the bathroom to draw a bath. When Nagisa entered the bathroom, she smelled the calming scent of the lavender bubbles that now filled the tub and air. Tamao was standing beside the tub, smiling and holding a bath sponge on a string.

Nagisa couldn't wait to feel the warmth of the water and let her body feel lighter. Blushing, she turned away from Tamao's gaze, and facing the wall, she untied the belt of her silky, yellow robe, and let the garment fall to the floor. Tamao took in the precious site of Nagisa's hair spilling past her shoulders. Her eyes traced the curves of the auburn-haired girl's body down to her feet. Trying her best not to expose her front, Nagisa attempted to enter the bathtub backwards, and then slipped on a rubber duck. "Aieeeee!" she squealed, and promptly fell on her butt.

Tamao giggled and turned beet red.

"Close your eyes Tamao-chan!" Nagisa scolded. She was wincing in pain. She must have injured her tailbone.

"Yes! Of course!" Tamao said. But, Tamao closed only one eye, as Nagisa hurried to crawl into the bathtub.

Sinking into the bath, Nagisa caught Tamao peeking again.

"Tamao-chan!" Nagisa yelped, hiding beneath the bubbles.

Surprised at being noticed, Tamao stumbled backward, and bumping into the toilet, she managed to drop the sponge, which plopped in the bubbles between Nagisa's legs.


Eventually, the two were able to relax, and Nagisa floated in the bathtub with her eyes closed. Tamao sat on the toilet lid, pining after her. But, a strange noise interrupted her thoughts. Nagisa still had her eyes closed and continued to hum softly, a song Yaya and Hikari had been practicing in choir. Tamao heard the strange noise again. There seemed to be a clinking sound issuing from the dorm hallway. The sound stopped.

Not noticing anything strange, Nagisa kept humming and stretched out her limbs. Many of the bubbles were melting away. She stuck an arm out to reach for her silky robe, but Tamao retrieved it for her.

"I think I can finally go to school now," Nagisa said, climbing out of the bath tub, "Thanks for the relaxation, Tamao-chan."

Tamao smiled and opened Nagisa's robe for her. But then, the sound of clinking started again. This time it seemed closer to their room. Without notice, the bathroom door swung open and banged against the wall. Alarmed, Nagisa quickly wrapped her robe around herself, hid behind the shower curtain, and closed her eyes. Tamao froze against the wall.

Standing in the doorway was a tall figure with blonde hair, bunched up on top of her head with an elaborate hair ornament. The woman was wearing a full, traditional red kimono covered in golden flowers. Her face could not be seen because it was covered with a traditional Noh mask. Once she was able to take in the site, Nagisa was even more terrified, and she ran to Tamao's arms. The strange woman continued to approach them slowly. Out of each of her sleeves, she pulled a nunchuck. The sounds of chains, Tamao thought with horror, as she noted the dangling wooden weapons.

"That energy," the mask whispered, "I want your memories."

With that, the figure reached out its bony hands and long, polished nails and tore Nagisa from Tamao's arms. She whipped her nunchucks until they wrapped around Nagisa's neck, and she began to drag her out of the bathroom.

"Nagisa-chan!" Tamao screamed.

Now becoming more angry than terrified, Nagisa fought and struggled, pulling at the tight grip of the nunchucks. She could feel the metal links digging into the skin of her neck. She couldn't gather enough air to scream.

The figure in the Noh mask threw Nagisa down on the bed, continuing to hold the nunchucks tightly around her neck. As Nagisa hit the bed, a violent gust of wind blew the windows open and snow came swirling into the room. The woman cackled loudly. Tamao, realizing that she was powerless, grabbed her bag and escaped through the open door.