Author's Note: Whoa! It's written quite a bit here. I combined some ideas that I have been sitting on for quite some time. We have three more tadpoles this week too. I also got to add in a couple of scenes that were supposed to go in last week's halo but here we are. The scene with Mikado and Yokubo just came pouring out. I hope I was able to make it creepy enough for you. Also, I have noticed there have been a few sex scenes in this season. I don't know why or how. It just happened. There might be more if it calls for it. Speaking of which, I have next week mapped out, and let's just say we're going to see a certain cult again. That's right, they're still in the story. For now, enjoy this week's halo.
Halo Ten: Tadpoles:
Halfway across Ikebukuro, a girl of thirteen years old sat under a tree at her school. Her light honey-brown hair touched the shoulders of her uniform. She stared at the track team running around on the track. The girl sighed and reached into her bag. She pulled out a green stuffed animal. The top of its head had a green crown of leaves with a dome of blue fabric that was supposed to look like water. The yellow beak was halfway sewn on. Two large Xs were drawn on the face. The girl had been meaning to finish what she and her grandmother had started together. It had been hard to look at for quite some time.
But she decided that was going to change.
The girl reached down into her bag for her sewing kit. She threaded the yellow thread through the needle and got to work. Each snitch was added with care. They weren't as good as her grandmother's but they were close enough. It didn't take long for the beak to be completely sewn onto the plush creature's face. She gave her handiwork a little smile.
The girl reached into a small case of buttons and dug around for what she wanted. She came across two big shiny black buttons. The girl sewed each one where the Xs were drawn. When she was done, the girl held out the stuffed kappa inches away from her head.
"What's the matter, Mio-chan?" she asked in a frog-like voice for the creation.
"I'm lonely," Mio said in her own voice. "I don't have any friends."
"I'll be your friend," the stuffed kappa said. She moved the head and arm as she spoke. Mio started to perk up.
"Thank you so much," she said. Suddenly, she paused when she felt that shiver run down her spine. Mio looked up across to the bushes. It was him again. He always watched her when she came over to the tree. Why doesn't he come over and talk to him? She knew that he was there watching her. He probably knew that she could feel him nearby.
Mio turned her stuffed kappa to the bushes.
"You see him?" she whispered. "He's always watching me. I just wish that he would come over and talk to me." That last part was said out loud. As expected, there was no response. Mio frowned as she shrugged. She didn't know why she didn't get up and try to talk to her watcher. But maybe… Just maybe…
Meanwhile, a boy sat in the bushes watching Mio. He's not stalking her. He's seen her before… in that bad place.
He's never had the guts to go over and talk to her. It's like a strange fear grips him and he can't move. Instead, he has his sketchbook. She is the subject of his artwork. The boy always made her look so pretty. Today, he got started on a new picture.
It was like his hands were on autopilot. The pencil started with Mio's face. Round cheeks, cute eyes, cute little button nose, and a little happy mouth. He already liked where this was going. But then he frowned. He could never get her to come to life on paper. It was a pretty drawing with no soul.
"I just wish that he would come over and talk to me," he heard say. The boy froze. This shouldn't have been a surprise. They knew that each other was watching.
Why don't you go over and talk to her?
There was his voice again.
He's been talking to the boy for the past couple of days. He doesn't know who he is. But the boy isn't annoyed by the voice. In fact, he finds himself blushing. Blushing at the thought of going over and talking to his crush.
Go on. Go talk to her. She looks so lonely, doesn't she? And besides, I know how you feel about her.
"Shut up!" the boy shouted. His face turned bright red. Why does he always say that?
Aw, don't be like that. I am only telling the truth. You know that I would never lie to you, Kenma-kun. I am just trying to help you.
Kenma looked away, pouting. His cheeks felt hot again.
"Fine, I'll go talk to her," he mumbled. The boy rose to his feet. He started to walk over to Mio sitting under the tree. But then the boy paused. Three girls about Mio's age surrounded her. A sinking feeling formed in the pit of Kenma's stomach. Mio looked uncomfortable around them.
"Oh no…" he said to himself. Yet, he couldn't move. The lead girl pulled Mio to her feet by the arm and dragged her away with her posse. Kenma ended up trailing behind them.
A man about twenty-four years sat off to the side in a maid café. This was his friend's stupid idea to come here. The man would've rather been home. One of his friends grabbed him by the shoulders.
"Hey, man!" he said. "Lighten up! Don't be so damn gloomy all the time." The other man forced himself to grin. He wanted to tell his friend to back off. He wanted to hit him in his stupid grinning face. Instead, he quietly slid out from under his friend's arm. He tried to ignore one of the maids smiling and winking at him.
Lately, the man has been in a foul mood. There's just so much going on in his head. He got up and walked out to the back way.
"Sojiro?" one of his friends asked. He didn't even respond. The man kept walking until he made it outside.
But then, that strange shiver ran up his spine. What is it now? The man turned his head.
"Yo," Yukio said with a wave. Sojiro frowned.
"How did you find me here?" he asked.
"Oh come on," Yukio said. "It wasn't hard to find through your phone. It's all child's play to Shingo-kun." The other tadpole frowned. Of course, he would resort to that. Sojiro folded his arms across his chest.
"What do you want from me?" he asked.
"We just want to help you," Yukio said. "We've been looking for the others for quite some time. Things are going to get really bad." He's said this before. Sojiro knows that he's right. But still…
"You do put up a tempting argument," he said. The tadpole looked at the building behind him.
"Much be better than hanging out with them," Yukio pointed out. "We won't pick on you for being a virgin." Sojiro glared at him.
"Sorry about that," Yukio said. The other tadpole frowned and pulled out his phone. He texted his friends and hit send.
"There," Sojiro said. Yukio smiled.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"Whatever," the other tadpole said. The men headed off into the night.
Mikado couldn't escape her. The scent of her perfume and spider lilies teased his nose at night. He could still feel her body on him. Mikado shivered at the last thought. He didn't know what to make of this. He didn't want to think about her.
"Is something wrong?" Anri asked in real life. Mikado quickly looked up. She had a worried look in her eyes. The tadpole shifted his eyes away from her.
"Nothing," he lied. She tried to reach for his hand but he drew it back.
"Please… don't," Mikado pleaded. The pheromone blockers were working but he couldn't be too careful. He couldn't tell her what was wrong yet. Even he didn't know what to make of it.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I've had so much on my mind." Mikado couldn't look her in the eye as he spoke. He hoped that she wouldn't pry.
"Oh," Anri said in a quiet voice. Mikado tried to keep her at arm's length for he already knew what her future was. They would sleep together and she would become pregnant. Soon, Tandeki will find out and keep her hostage for tests. They will come to use her to advance the game. Anri would end up wasting away in a hospital bed and dying. All because of him.
Mikado shook his head. No! He couldn't let that happen again. I've already lost her once. I couldn't bear it if I lost her again.
The tadpole boy stood up.
"I'm just tired," Mikado said. He walked over to the door and left the room.
"Mikado?" Anri asked. The door closed behind him.
Still, fate seemed to conspire against him. Lilith and Hecate's words rattled around in his head. It was like they were expecting him to get Anri pregnant. Mikado shivered. He tried not to think about giving in to their expectations.
Mikado slowed down his footsteps. His eyes trailed left and right. Who was following him now?
"Hello?" the boy whispered. No answer. Mikado puffed up his cheeks. He didn't feel like playing this game tonight.
"Enough of this!" he shouted. "Come out already." No response. That lemony scent of spider lilies filled the air. Hands caressed his shoulders and torso. Mikado felt his body go stiff. A hot breath rested on his ear. He began to shiver. Soft whispers filled his ear. A woman's giggle made his heart jump.
He managed to push him away from her invisible grasp. Mikado fell to the ground panting. His vision started to swim for a moment. The tadpole boy rubbed his forehead as he slowly rose to his feet. Why couldn't she just leave him alone? Mikado ran all the way home.
It's much worse at night.
He couldn't tell what was real or what was a dream anymore. They only slept together once in his dreams. Even that was enough to haunt him. Since then, Mikado can't get that woman out of his head. He almost didn't want to go to bed. She would be waiting for him in some way.
Mikado tried to act like tonight was normal. He got on his computer and started to look up sex demons. That led down the rabbit hole about succubae. Female demons who steal the life energy of humans through sex while they slept. It sounded like a kitsune to him. There was no cure to stop a succubus. The tadpole shivered at the results. He already began to dread falling asleep.
Suddenly, the room felt colder. Mikado didn't get a chance to respond. A pair of graceful hands began to rub his shoulders. There was no way that he fell asleep at his computer. Maybe he dozed off. That wasn't possible. A gentle voice filled his ear.
"Come to bed with me, darling."
Mikado closed his eyes and shook his head.
"You're not real," he said back.
"But I am real, darling."
His hand tightened on the mouse. He wasn't going to look behind him. The tadpole already knew that she had her eyes on him.
"What do you want from me?" Mikado asked.
"Aw," Yokubo said. "I would've thought that you would've pieced it together by now." Her perfume made his head swim. Mikado thought that he was going to faint in her arms.
"I have a girlfriend," he said. "Please leave me alone." Yokubo shook her head.
"That's not what you really want," she said. "Is it?" Her breasts were pressed up against his back.
"Come to bed with me," Yokubo whispered.
"No," he said in a low firm tone. His protests meant nothing. She was playing a game with him. A game of seduction that was about to begin round two. Yokubo kissed him on the neck. Mikado started to remember that first night they shared together. That scent disarmed him.
"It felt good to surrender, didn't it?" she purred in his ear. "It tears me up inside to see you torn up. Why fight it? Just come to bed with me." His fingers slipped away from the mouse. Her lips curved into a hungry smile.
She pushed him back onto his futon. Yokubo could see the fear and panic in his eyes. She gave him a little pout as she shook her head.
"No, you aren't dreaming," she said. The lust deity leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Mikado could feel his body relax. He felt hot all over. Yokubo slowly pulled away. Mikado was about to speak when she put her finger to his lips.
"Shhh," she whispered. "Don't." Mikado tried not to look at her curved body through her sheer silk black robes. She reached up and slid them off. Her pale skin glowed in the dark apartment. Her gaze made him feel so small.
"Aw, are you afraid of me?" she asked. The tadpole slowly nodded. Yokubo gently caressed her cheek. She leaned down to his ear.
"Don't worry," the deity of lust purred. "I'll be nice." She nibbled on his ear lobe. Mikado's body went stiff before he broke down shivering. Yokubo trailed down to his pajama bottoms.
"Oh my," she said. "You're hard for this." She leaned down to his ear again.
"Does the idea of another woman fucking you get you that excited?" Yokubo asked. Mikado turned away with his face so red.
"No," he mumbled.
"Tsk, tsk, don't lie," she said. Yokubo turned his head toward her.
"Look at me. Look at me!" she commanded. "I want to see your eyes through everything." Yokubo forced another kiss on his lips. This time, Mikado had no choice but to give in. She made it clear that she was the one in control. She wasn't going to take no for an answer. But did it excite him so much? Yokubo slid down the boy's pajama bottoms and his boxers.
This time, things felt different.
There was an odd scent in the room. Not just the lemony smell of spider lilies. But there was that thick coppery scent of blood that was thick enough to make his mouth fill with bile. Yokubo had her hungry eyes locked on him the whole time. He couldn't escape her gaze. The tadpole could feel his heart pounding against his chest as she rode him without mercy. Her nails dug into his shoulder blades. Yokubo threw back her head and moaned.
Mikado tried to speak. She gently put her finger to his lips. For a split second, something about her didn't look right. Yokubo's face looked like it was rotting away on the left side. When the tadpole blinked, her face looked fine.
"Are you enjoying this, baby?" she asked. Mikado let out a small choking noise. Yokubo leaned down and kissed him with her tongue in his mouth. She scratched her nails from his shoulder blade to his stomach. He couldn't feel the pain but the sensation put his mind in a foreign place that he didn't want to visit. Lilith took him to the gate at this place. Yokubo opened that gate and pushed him through.
She moved down to his neck. Mikado gasped as her teeth sank into his flesh. He wants her to stop but can't find the words. His head is in a confusing place. This was wrong. Every fiber in his body screamed at her to stop. But he didn't have it in him to push the lust deity off. Her nails and teeth were like dull knives but he couldn't feel the pain.
"Mistress…"
He reached up to caress her cheek but she gently pushed his hand back down. Yokubo smiled as she shook her head. He wants to proclaim his love for Anri. To proclaim that he doesn't want to cheat on her. To proclaim how he doesn't want this.
"I know," she said. By now, she looked like she was rotting away. Flies covered her beautiful face. Maggots were crawling out of her ribcage and torso. Still, she kept thrusting. Mikado couldn't look away. Her hand held his face in place as she reached her climax. The tadpole braced himself for his own.
But then…
Nothing happened.
Yokubo climbed off of her plaything. Mikado lifted his head as he tried to speak. She gingerly put a finger to her lips as she smirked. By now, the maggots and flies had disappeared. The deity of lust got up and put on her robe. Yokubo leaned in close to his face. She only had one more thing to say to him.
"We see each other again real soon."
Yokubo backed up to the front door and walked out into the late hours of the night. Once he snapped out of his trance, Mikado rushed over to the open front door and looked outside.
She had already vanished into thin air.
"Anri! Anri! Anri!" a little girl's voice yelled in the darkness. Anri ripped open her eyes. She felt around for her glass on the nightstand before sitting up and putting them on. A little girl about six years old stood at the foot of her bed. Her little white dress stood out in the darkness. A wreath of little pink flowers rested on top of short black hair. Her eyes looked darker than night. Anri squinted as she tried to understand what she was looking at.
"Momoki?" she asked. The little girl had a worried look on her face. She started chewing up her finger before lifting her chin.
"Onii-san's in trouble!" she blurted out.
-December 15, 2015-
Across the city, Momoki sat chewing on her fingers as she turned her ankles. The poor child looked ready to cry. A hand rested on her shoulder.
"He's okay," Mika whispered in her ear. Momoki turned and looked up to see the older girl giving her a gentle smile. Mika held up her phone.
"See? He just sent this text to everyone," she said. Momoki stared at the screen before she could relax.
"Where did Shinra-sensei is again?" Erina asked.
"[He's at Michiko's place,]" Celty spelled out with her shadows.
"Too close," Yokio said. The dullahan took a step back toward the kitchen.
"Now what?" Chie asked.
"I suppose we wait for everyone to either come here or go over to Michi's," Yukio said as he looked at a text from Itori.
"We need to talk."
Those four words are never followed by anything good. Yukio knew that he was just going to have to suck it up and talk to his girlfriend. Suddenly, he and the other tadpoles felt that spark run down their spines.
"Two of them," Shingo said in the corner with his laptop.
"I'll get it," Hifumi said. She got up from the chair and hurried to the door. The tadpole looked out the peephole. Saori waved from out in the hall.
"Hey," she said.
"Are you alone?" Hifumi asked.
"No," Saori said. "But look I brought with me." The other tadpole opened the door. Saori smiled as Sojiro stood next to her looking like a sourpuss as usual.