A night in the Life
Sam Williams was a successful young man. A published author already being compared to the likes of King and Atwood, happily married to a beautiful woman and with a now 5 year old daughter he adored above all else.
What few knew, was that Sam's wife Emiko and daughter Erma were not human. No, they were Yokai; Japanese Monsters, or more specifically, Onryo. The best way to describe them was to say 'the girl from The Ring.'
It was quite a tale, how Sam met Emiko and how they fell in love. And it was quite another series of tales of all the misadventures their daughter went on.
But these are not the entire focus of this story. No, while Erma has a grand destinty ahead of her, her dear old daddy is no slouch either. Granted, he's nowhere near as powerful as her mother, but Sam does have a role to play.
Interested? Well them lets get started shall we?
Our tale begins the night of Erma's birthday party, when Emiko reveals to Sam that one of the presents she had found was from someone who had caused them no end of grief...
ERMA
"..What was it?" Sam asked.
"...I burnt it."Emiko confessed, somewhat embrassed she had not at least checked the gift before destroying it.
"I know, but.." Sam started, then realizing why his wife was embrassed. "Wait..you didn't even...?"
"Sam, you KNOW what my father is like!"
"Fair enough." Sam mused, agreeing with Emiko on that point. Her father was...not an easy fellow to get along with. Quite violent and fearsome too. If they never saw each other, it would be too soon.
Never saw each other.
Suddenly his face became downtrodden.
"Sam." Emiko demanded. "What're you hiding?"
Sam (weakly):
"Nothing!" Sam weakly assured his wife, as he compiled his thoughts. "Its just...Look, I...Dislike him too. What he did to you, your brother and sisters? Hell will freeze before I forgive him. But then again, he IS Erma's grandpa. She should meet him."
He then chuckled.
"Lord knows MY dad is never coming back"
Emiko winced and held her husband as memories began to play in Sam's mind
Twenty one years ago
"Back in a flash, kiddo. Just going to get some candies. Take care of your mama for me until then, okay?"
The man, dressed in a poncho and cowboy hat, messed with his and his brother's hair before walking out the door.
That was the last time they ever saw him.
Present day
A bell began to chime. One that Sam knew all too well. One that Emiko both loved and found annoying. But it had to be answered.
With a sigh, Sam stood up and reached into his drawer, drawing a dark bkue cloak, several bottles in a wooden carrier and another pair of glasses that could be fitted over his own. The hat he placed on his head compelted the outfit.
"I'll be back by morning." He promised his wife.
"I know." Emiko responded a knowing smile on her face. As much as this was inoppertune, it was one of the reasons she knew she fell in love with the right man. "Be safe."
"Will do."
The couple kissed and Sam moved to leave, but turned and entered his daughter's room, giving Erma a kiss on the forehead.
"Happy birthday, baby girl. Daddy loves you. Sweet dreams."
He then went outside to find a car waiting for him; a very old and dinged up car that had seen better days...and was floating above the ground. Without a word, he got into the passenger seat.
"Aw shit..Did I miss the little munchkin's birthday party?!" The driver said.
The man driving was the same age as Sam. He had black hair with a silver streak in it, stunning amber eyes, a slender build with washboard abs, and the arm he kept wrapped with red bandages that seemed to be emitting ethereal blue light and had clawed fingers.
if you looked at him, you could joke that he looked like a Dark Anime Protagonist. In fact, Sam often claimed he was the fusion of Guts from Berserk and Allen Walker from D Gray Man.
This was Sam's best friend, Ash; no relation to Ash Williams of the Evil Dead Franchise or Ash Kethcum of Pokemon. And like Emiko, he was not human.
"Don't worry." Sam smirked. "You FINALLY called me for help?"
"...Saw through me, huh partner?" Ash asked as he switched the car into drive, getting a smile from Sam.
"You're not exactly subtle, Ash."
"It was just a zombie or two and a ghoul. Nothing to pull you away from the munchkin's birthday..."
"Which you forgot it was."
As they drove off, Ash saw Sam was distracted
"What's up, buddy?"
"...You remember what I told you about Emiko's dad? Well..he sent Erma a birthday present."
"Yowch. What did you do about it?"
"I didn't do anything. My wife destroyed it."
"...Probably a good idea. From what ya told me, it was probably propaganda or some hypnotizing thing-a-ma-bob."
"You're right." Sam said, his mood suddenly brightening as an idea came to his head. "But, my transcript is pretty much done, activy in Blairwood is as low at it can go without extreme measures and we need a vacation so...How'd you like to go to Japan? Erma HAS been wondering where 'Unckie Ashie' is hiding..."
"Awww, I haven't seen that nugget since she was two! Count me in!" Ash beamed.
ERMA
They came to their destination in a few minutes, a sewer not too far from Erma's school. Sam slipped on his robe, put on the new glasses and looked over his vials as Ash pulled out a duffel bag.
"Now...what to use today?"
Said duffel bag was unzipped and then promptly flipped, allowing an assortment of weapons to fall out: Bazookas, sniper rifles, crossbows, holy water, silver shaving and bullets, Wolfsbane, blessed blades, Silver crosses, stakes, garlic and actual steaks...
"Ah, there it is!" Ash beamed as he picked up a steak and chomped down on it like it was a pizza slice. He then took out som garlic, crushed it in his palms and sprinkled it onto said steak.
"...Really?" Sam asked, disgust clear.
"What? I get hungry." Ash said as raw meat got stuck in his teeth and fell onto the ground. "And sides, not all of us are rich."
"If you need money, all you have to do is ask!"
"Oh yeah, and that'll make me feel good about myself."
"I gotta tell Emiko NOT to give you hammer and space bags anymore." Sam sighed.
"Awww, is somebody jealous...?"
"...At least I'm married." Sam said before sighing. "... I'm sorry."
"Now why you gotta do me dirty like that?"
"Ash. It's been a long day; Erma's birthday, finally getting my transcript done, dealing with my idiot of a publicist, the family drama, whatever Yokai on monster rang the alarm...I just want to finish this, go home and cuddle with Emi."
"Eh...Fair enough...But I'm crashing on the couch!" Ash demanded. "Getting tired of sleeping in the car. Sides, wanna see my little niece.
"Okay." Sam said. "Lets go."
They then entered the sewers, and didn't have to go too far to find their targets...
A while back, Erma and her friends has discovered an entire civilization of rat people, or 'Nezumi' as some called them, living under the school. After a series of misadventures, Erma and her new best Felicia had begun the process of letting them interact with normal people..or at least those in Blairsville.
But as is often the case, a few objected to this change of life. And now, several of them were ranting and raving about what to do.
Ash yawned rather loudly, much to Sam's worry.
"What? You hear one racist speak, you've heard em all." the snarky humanoid mused, loud enough to be heard,
"Ash..." Sam sighed. "Sometimes I really hate you."
"INTRU...!" The apparent leader started to scream, only for Sam to toss a vial from which erupted some smoke that calmed everyone down.
"Good evening, gentle-rats and ladies...Or, may I call you Nezumi?"
Spying the confused looks on their faces, Sam composed himself.
"My name is Sam Willaims. This is my partner and friend Ash."
"Howdy." Ash saluted.
"We mean you no harm."
"Unless you start something." Ash grinned. "PLEASE. Start something."
Sam groaned.
"Please. Lets not escalate things. We're just here to talk and offer help."
"And what could YOU offer us, human?" One rat asked.
"References for jobs, magic to make you look human, information about others of your kind..." Ash started.
"And you would know this...how?"
"Because," Sam said. "My family, since time in memorium, has been tracking down, learning about/from and protecting beings like your people. In fact, my daughter Erma..."
"Oh so YOU'RE that creature's parent!" The leader hissed.
Sam's face hardened suddenly.
"...Uh oh." Ash said, taking a step back.
"Now, good...Sir?" Sam started. "I'm not someone who resolves issues with violence...But that right there? Making me REALLY wanna punch you."
Several more rats stepped up.
"And your friends."
Ash stood in front of Sam.
"Listen, you're in a tricky spot and don't know what to do. I get that. Seriously, I was in your exact same postion once. Change is scary but...come on, surely you wanna enjoy real fresh air? Not rotten food?"
"We are safe here!" The leader snapped. "And we will deal with whatever comes about by any means nessacary."
"So...hypotectically, that includes getting rid of me and Sammie, even after all we've offered?"
"Got that right, hu...!" Another rat started, before:
"That makes things EASY FOR ME!" Ash grinned madly, his form suddenly changing into something monstrous.
Where there once stood a man, there was now a bipedal black creature with a jagged mouth, horns, blood red eyes, a barbed hooked tail and spines jutting out of his back.
Many of the rats lost their nerve at Ash's true form, but the one who had been throwing hot air leapt forward...only to be pinned down and bitten
"ASH!" Sam commanded, pulling out a vial and making sure it was clear for his friend to see. The creature released the Rat and calmed down, but kept licking its lips.
"Before anyone asks?" Sam added. "Ash here is...well...an amalgamation of sorts. But he behaves."
Ash growled.
"Now...Listen to what Sam has to offer."
The rat-men did so, and Sam did end up making a damn good offer:
As Ash had mentioned, Sam could give them all references to well paying jobs and provide magic or potions to make them appear as 'normal humans.' He even gave them gift cards of the highest vlaue at a variety of stores, so that they could truly see what life was like outside of their home.
However, the leader was not swayed.
"We'll keep in contact." Sam said. "Now, have a good evening."
As he truned his back to lead, the leader pounced...
SNAP!
"OWIE!"
Only to find himself now in a giant mousetrap atatched to Sam's back. Still alive and more comically hurt than in mortal peril, but still.
"I warned you..." Sam sighed, lifting a buckle so taht the trap could fall off. Jaws dropped at the sight a nd aside from the leader's pained growls and curses, not a word was said until:
"Since when do you have a giant mouse-trap attached to your chest?" Ash asked. "Also, where did you even get that?"
"Since I found out about a hidden city of rat people and at least one loudmouth among them." Sam explained. "And they're surprisingly easy to build...plus, I kind of had too: everything Emiko had was a little...lethal."
"SEE?!" The leader screamed. "THIS is why we must attack! Humans...!"
Sadly for him, his rage had cost him any sympathy.
"Actually, you attacked him!"
"Yeah, he was trying to be diplomatic about all this."
"Imma be honest, I only came because I heard we were going upwards. If I'd known this was a hate thing I'd have stayed home."
"I will never stop!"The leader screamed. "You and your kin will pay for this! I'll get out of here, find that brat and then...!"
Sam sighed, uttered some anicent words and then turned to the rat-man, his eyes now glowing. A portal appeared under said rat-man, and he was never seen again.
"Where did you send him?" One of the followers asked.
"Well, since he wouldn't listen to reason and threatened my family...Actually, you're better off not knowing." Sam explained.
Elsewhere in the mutliverse
Tzeentch looked upon his new toy and decided for a lighter punshiment: Making him listen to the worst sounds of something only true sadists (or children with no sense of taste) could tolerate
That of course would be Justin Beiber's entire catalogue on loop, mixed together!
"NOOOOOO!" The rat screamed. "ITS MEDIOCRE YET CATCHY!"
Real world
"So...Can we go now?" Ash asked, returning to normal.
"Yeah I think so."
And so they did, leaving the rat people to their own devices.
ERMA
Erma came down to breakfast to see an interesting and possibly scary sight: A man sleeping on the couch
She quickly and quietly went back upsatairs and pulled her father to the living, room, pointing to said man
"Erma..." Sam yawned. "That's your Uncle Ashie, remember him?"
Erma's brow furrowed, then her eyes widened and a great big smile crossed her facel she remembered a funny man who could transform and costantly said 'Booga Booga Booga!' while making funny faces at her.
She then leapt onto the man and gave him a great big hug and nuzzled his unshaven face
"GAH! WHAT THE-?!" Ash started before he saw who had awoken him, chuckling as he got up and then hugged the girl tightly. "Come here, you little rascal!"
Erma would've squelled in delight, but let Ash hug and tickle her.
A yawn filled the air, and Emiko made her way down.
"Why is it so lou..?"
She then saw an unshaven man holding her daughter. Under normal circumstances, she'd have attacked and slaughtered him...no, attacked, asked Sam and THEN slaughtered...But then she took a better look.
"Hey there Emi!" Ash beamed. "Hope we didn't wake ya!"
Emiko smiled and took her daughter into her arms before hugging Ash and then moving to kiss Sam good morning.
"Well, I think it's a little too late for that."
" ...Would making breakfast make up for it?" Ash suggested.
Instantly, Sam's face went pale as the shirt his daughter and wife wore and his form tensed. A cold sweat ran down his formerly
"YOU? In the kitchen?"
"Hey, I only burnt them down in High School!"
"Seventeen times."
"I've gotten better!"
"You BURNT soup. I'm STILL not sure how you did that!"
"Lemme try pal!"
"Sweetheart?" Emiko cooed, and even hidden under her hair, Sam could tell she was using what no man could resist:
The 'Doe' eyes. Erma was helping.
"What would you make?" Sam asked, then added. "WITHOUT THE DEEP FRYER!"
Ash simply smirked and pushed the family outside.
"Just relax and let the master do his thing..."
2 minutes later
An explosion of flame burst from the kitchen window; said room was now on fire.
20 minutes later
The four were at a diner, deoruing pancakes, eggs and donuts.
"And that's why I don't trust you anywhere near a kitchen."
Erma giggled, having found fun in Ash's epic fail.
Read and review, would ye kindly?
New idea, created with some help Tim Curry's Toxic Love, the fellow who introduced me to Erma. Hope you like and tune in for more.
Have a good...Wait...what's this?
Somewhere in Japan, there was a cave. And in that cave, there was what looked like a beautiful cave painting...that was oddly glowing in several places.
In front of said 'painting', there was an elderly man with a long beard, dressed in a fedora and travel worn clothes and a lit Cuban Cigar in his mouth, which was in a tired, but proud grin.
Shaun Williams
Age 56
Father of Sam and Mikey Williams
"How ya holding up, Aibou?" He asked, looking upwards.
From the roof of the cave, a web struck the glowing sections of the 'painting' before vanishing into it. A loud thud came from behind him. He didn't need to look to know who it was;
A woman with the lower body of a spider, yet the 'human' appearance of an older, yet still powerfuly bulit, graceful and beautiful woman.
Hika Yureimoto
Jorogumo AKA Spider-Woman Yokai
Older sister of Osamu
"I should be asking you that." She mued. "20 years we've been keeping this seal in place, with YOU taking the burnt of it; no rest, drink, food or...toliet. I could survive, but any nomral human..."
"Ain't normal and you know it." Shaun reminded her. "Sides...to keep HIM in here? No pruce is too great."
A deep yet still shrill but still commanding chuckle filled the air.