To Play with Curse
Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home
By: LiveWild
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(10 years ago)...
"8, 9, 10. Ready or not, here I come!"
Akari and Arata glued their bodies together underneath the staircase as they eagerly listened for their cousin, Asami was a tiny child at the age of six but her footsteps resembled a grown man's-heavy and loud.
It had been their fourth round of hide and seek and Asami was the seeker for all four games, not that it was their fault for it really. After watching T.V. for two hours, it was Asami who suggested playing the game and it was Asami who couldn't find them for the past three games. So, they had to restart the game with her as the seeker each time.
"I thought it was your turn to count-"
"Shhh!" By sheer luck, Akari managed to cover her brother's mouth in the dark before frantically turning her head, "I know but I changed my mind, I'm not in the mood to." She eased her grip as she realized Asami wasn't heading in their direction, "Besides, it's nice to just sit here and do nothing."
Arata shoved his sister's hand away, freeing his mouth to giggle softly, "Poor Asami, we're gonna be for hours. Think it was too harsh of us to cover the windows too?"
"I don't think the moonlight would have helped her much." She whispered while leaning her back against the wall, getting lost in her thoughts. If she wasn't stuck babysitting Asami and Arata she could have been out with her friends watching a movie by now. Instead, she was playing a child's game with a child that lacked any basic skills in it. She couldn't decide if it was a blessing or a curse.
"Akari, Arata! I give up, I don't wanna play anymore." Asami's brittle voice shot throughout the house.
The siblings pinpointed her voice with ease, she was a good distance away from them.
"Why would she go to the living room? There's nowhere to hide in there." Arata questioned, shaking his head in disappointment.
"You're not any smarter than her."
"Yes I am!"
"Shut up!"
Debating on what to do, they decided to stay silent, perhaps the frustration would motivate her to finally find them and end their boredom once and for all.
Akari and Arata couldn't help but chuckle again at their cousin as she yelled their names again, what a shame to be so bad at something such as hide and seek.
"Akrai, Arata?" She called out to them yet again as a few minutes went by without a reply.
Without warning, they heard her run up the stairs above them, causing them to push their shoulders against one another even harder. The wooden steps of the stairs creaked even against her weight. They could hear her opening and closing doors in a state of panic as she reached the hallway.
She called them again and again. With each time, the distress in her voice grew, "Akari! Arata!"
"Baka," Arata sighed, "Is she crying? If she's that scared, why doesn't she just turn the lights on."
"Because of the rule. Turn the lights on and you're disqualified, and if you're disqualified-"
"You get locked in the basement for five minutes, I know. Damn whoever made that rule." Arata scratched his head.
"You did, Baka."
Suddenly, Akrai looked upward as she quickly noticed something. A second again there was chaos, but now, there was nothing.
There was no movement.
No footsteps, no opening and shutting of doors.
The house was terrifyingly quiet and it was then that Akrai swallowed thickly. The only thing she could detect was the sound of her heart beating in their ears. She couldn't understand why she was so high on alert in such a small amount of time but she was, something didn't feel right.
Without Asami's constant talking and running around, the darkness became rather overwhelming without her obvious presence. She was never not loud nor making her location known. She could feel her brother's stare as he took note of Asami's absence as well.
Where did she go? Did she get stuck somewhere? No, she would have been even more obnoxious- screaming for help even.
It was when Akari felt a pressure on her shoulder of Arata's hand that she turned to look in front of her.
In front of them was a set of glowing eyes, a pure white color that teared through the black that engulfed them. It was like looking into a pair of lion eyes, hunting in the dark for its prey. Bone-chilling and deadly.
Akari had never felt such a feeling in her life, she had never known such fear till that moment, she thought she was going to die. A shot of adrenaline put their bodies on overload but instead of a flight or fight instinctive response, they felt their bodies freeze with fright.
It felt like it pierced through their souls and held them captive. They couldn't move an inch, let alone try to form a word. They were both shaking, their eyes widened. The sound of Arata shifting towards the wall as if he could disappear into it rang in her ears.
How was she going to protect him or herself?
She tried catching her breath, gasping for any amount of air.
Its eerie eyes shined bright enough that Akrai could point out how small the creature was along with the small facial features; a sharp V jawline and sandy blonde colored hair that reached down to their collarbone.
She staid frozen as she began fitting the pieces together.
Before Akari could speak, Arata screamed bloody murder as it lifted its arm from its side, aiming right at them as it pointed its tiny finger at the siblings.
"Found you."
"You will accompany Yuji and Megumi on their mission tomorrow night." Asami replayed Akrai's last words to her as she headed to her room, "For the time being get to know them. You might actually like it here."
How on earth was she supposed to be ready to go on a mission as early as tomorrow night? She didn't know what she was doing, what did they even expect from her? Aside from her sensor abilities she was useless, she had no training in hand to hand combat.
As promised, her bags were waiting for her as she stepped foot in her dorm room, placed neatly beside the door frame. Asami brushed her fingertips against the rough strap of her duffle bag.
Grabbing her stuff and calling a taxi home was all too tempting. But for now, a place called Teok Sushi was first on the to do list.
What better way to bond with strangers you were going to help on a deadly mission in 24 hours than with food.
Asami couldn't decide if it was a shit plan or not. She could only assume that the students here had known each other for some while, understanding each other's limits, talents, and their character. She was a true outsider.
She was just dropped there and expected to fill a hole she felt like she was drowning in. What was even her name? Ah, right, Nobara. Asami was told the curse had thrown Nobara with such strength she was unconscious for two days straight.
Great.
Asami took the sight before her through her half closed eyelids. The room itself was rather dull, a bed in the center with a wooden frame, an old desk and chair in the corner, a closet on the opposite side, and a giant window that took up nearly the entire wall space.
An ordinary dorm room for a not so ordinary school.
It wasn't long before she began walking around, trying to get a closer look at what she was going to call home for a little while. She stopped in front of a medium sized mirror planted above the desk. Asami leaned in and took a deep breath before blowing on it, causing bits of dust to fly all around her like bits of snow.
Asami stared back at her reflection as the mirror was semi clear now, what looked back made her scrunch her nose in disgust; her hair was sticking out everywhere.
The wind from earlier had loosened strands from her ponytail, the dark circles around her brown eyes showed evidence of lack of sleep. It was an understatement to say she felt hideous.
She yanked her hair tie and placed it around her wrist for the time being, freeing her hair from the tangled mess.
Checking the time once more, Asami grabbed the smallest bag she brought and a fresh pair of clothes before setting off on her first mission, finding the showers.
"Itadakimasu!"
The few customers around them turned and watched in awe as Itadori attacked the plates of food, not wasting time to even take a breath.
"Tsk." Fushiguro groaned in disapproval at the sight.
They had gotten there 20 minutes ago and for exactly 20 minutes, Asami hadn't said a single word. The only thing that confirmed she was alive was when she began pushing her food around with her chopstick.
"Asami-san, isn't this place the greatest thing you've ever seen." Itadori asked as chunks of rice hung from the corner of his lips.
Asami was caught off guard by the sudden outburst, she leaned back into her chair, "Oh, ah-."
"There's nothing that beats revolving sushi. No, I take that back, there's nothing that beats revolving sushi at Splendid Sushi," He stuck his finger upward for a more dramatic effect, "the sushi comes to you on a bullet train." And with that, he attacked his plate. Asami wondered how long it would take before he started choking.
Unsure if he's comment required a response, she remained silent, lifting a piece of nigiri to her parted mouth.
It was good, but definitely not the best she's ever had. A local sushi place back in Naka had a special place in her heart that could never be topped.
Fushiguro pushed his plate away from him aggressively, "How are you supposed to be of any help if you act like your tongue is cut out?" he raised his tone with each word.
"That's a bit harsh, Fushiguro-san." Itadori said, shoving another roll in his mouth.
She looked straight ahead, chewing on her lip, "My conversation skills aren't what brought me here."
"If you lack such a skill then you don't deserve to be here at all."
"How are we going to put our trust in a newcomer when we don't know anything about her," the dark haired boy side eyed Asami, "that's what makes a team, that's what keeps us alive."
Asami placed her chopsticks on the plate, "And I don't know anything about any of you, yet, I still left my home to help you kill a curse and avenge your friend. Does that not say anything?"
"Doesn't say enough."
"I'm trying my best."
"Try harder. You have so called talents but don't seem to have the slightest bit of confidence. If you're going into this mission like that you're better off dead."
"Oi, Fushiguro," Itadori's gentle face wrinkled as he scrunched his eyebrows together, "It was us that screwed up the mission, it's not her fault she's here. Asami-san is only trying to help."
Then all at once, an awkward silence held the three hostage.
Not even Itadori tried to reach out for another bite of food. The laughter of the couple next to their booth caused Asami to shift uncomfortably.
The hand Asami held in her lap turned into a shaky fist, she wasn't used to being talked to in such a matter. In all honesty, she wasn't used to being talked to at all. She never had lots of friends and every friend she did have, was just as quiet and antisocial as she was. Although Fushiguro had a sharp tongue, Itadori's words put her at ease with herself; at least one of them didn't despise her.
Inhaling sharply, she relaxed her body and fixed her face on Fushiguro.
If he wanted her to take things so seriously then that's what she could do. If debriefing the damn mission was so important then so be it. She didn't want to die and if this was the way to ensure their success, she was all for it. She would play the role of a hero until Nobara gets better, after that she will be on the next taxi home. As far away from curses as possible. That is of course, if she doesn't get thrown into a cave wall and goes unconscious for a few days.
"Alright," Asami said with a serious tone, "What do I need to know about this curse?"
Fushiguro lips mimicked what Asami thought was a tiny smile, "Now that's a useful conversation starter."