'Welcome back, Chiyo'?! Romi had wondered what had popped into her head.
The moment she mentioned 'it's' name, the... thing had vanished. Before
that incident, she had never cared too much about the shadow. It came and
left, never posing a problem. But 'Chiyo' was something she could do an
Internet search for.
She had read aloud from a web page, '...The most rambunctious of which was a gaiaku that went by the name of Chiyo. Originally a strong demon, Chiyo became powerful enough to ally herself with the Gods and Goddesses as a minor deity. Fire was her main element, though her aim was on love.'
'She was a romantic, falling in love with one mortal, and making him love her in return, then turning on him. Over the centuries she caused hundreds of men to fall in love with her, toying with their emotions even when they loved her of their own free will.'
'Eventually, she caught the attention of another minor God, Mhasori. He saw her beauty and power as an opportunity. Using his skill with words, he manipulated her into joining his forces against the demon world. Together, they started an organization in the heavens called Akutenshi with their sights on earth, and eventually, the universe and heavens beyond.'
'Their possessed warriors began attacking major cities, abolishing the demon populations to prey, later, upon the weaker humans.-'
Slamming into a quickly opened door shook Romi from her thoughts of the evil spirit. She fell on her butt, her school materials flying every which way.
"Sorry Romi!"
She looked up into Suechi's bright eyes. For a second, a shadow rested right above his shoulder and she felt inexplicable anger towards him. Her vision slowly turned red, first around the edges of his form, then spreading to envelope her entire world. Her head ached feriously, but not as fearcly as her heart. For a moment she was no longer Romi, but someone else, evil and powerfully mad. She wanted to rip, tear, claw at the man before her in anyway she could. Cut him to ribbons, feel his blood on her soft skin. Watch him die and excrutiatingly painful death away from all those dear to him. Anything that would make him feel pain, make him suffer at her hands. Lash out now! Jump! Bite his tender, pale, exposed throat! Feel the mortal blood flow into your mouth! Jump!
"I guess I wasn't looking when I opened that door. Allow me to help you pick up your things?" Her offered her a hand up, and instantly she felt like her self again. Not even a second had passed, though it seemed like an eturnity.
"Sure."
They crawled on their knees around the unhelpful peoples' feet, collecting odd pieces of paper, pens, etc. Why did I react that way? She thought, he apologized and offered to help! AND he's my neighbor and sort-of-brother. What is going on?
"Let me walk you to your next class. You're not hurt, are you?"
She shook him off, assuring him she was fine, and left holding her head in one hand.
Communications, or English as the school insisted on calling it, passed slowly. Romi found in hard to concentrate, her head pounded and she found her thoughts returning always to the mysterious shadow called Chiyo. A casual hand dropped beside her and a folded piece of paper touched her knee. She reached down and took the note from Narrin.
'You don't look so good, girl. Are you sure you're not getting sick or something? I mean, I know that the Prof. can drone on sometimes... and that the glare from his head could cause anyone to get a headache, but seriously, you don't look well. -N'
If her English professor caught her passing notes, he'd give her detention... again. But that didn't discourage her this time. How important could acronyms be for him to 'drone on' for twenty minutes already with no sign of stopping?
In her fastest scrawl she scratched a reply.
'Remember when I told you I was seeing things? It happened again. -R'
Narrin's reply was short.
'Told you you were crazy. -N'
'You're not helping! I think it has something to do with Suechi. It appears when I'm with him or have just seen or talked to him. -R'
'Weird. I'm sure it will go away. Tricks of light. You have been stressed a lot lately, are you sure you aren't over doing it? -N'
'I knew it's name. -R'
'meow? -N'
'Whatever it is, it has a name. I did some research on the internet and found some information about an evil spirit/demon by the same name... any thoughts? -R'
'More l8er, baldy's startin' ta glace o'er here more often. -N'
"Miss Romi, see me after class."
Romi slumped in her chair. Why does he alsways go after me? She thought to her self, just because I don't understand his teaching style and no matter how hard I try, I never improve my grades! Is that a reason to start targeting me!?
After class, she dragged herself to the front of the room, her feet feeling heavier every step of the way. The bell that usually brought her happiness and freedom now signified the inevitable lecture approaching.
"I'm noticing your decreased attention span in my class, but if your thoughts must wander, at least don't drag other students down with you." He readjusted his glasses and continued. "I have notice something missing from your essays. You don't seem to be putting your soul into this class. I know you can do better if you give yourself a chance. That's why I'm offering to give you extra help after school twice a week. Volutary, of course, but I strongly suggest it."
Suechi walked by the window, she barely heard the words being directed at her. A shadow crossed her vision... her breathing came harder as she tried to remain calm.
"I-I have to get home!" Romi brushed past her teacher and ran to the waiting bus, early, she was able to find a quiet seat by herself towards the front of the bus.
Her repressed anger seemed to overcome her. She viewed herself as though she was watching herself through someone else's eyes. Her hair turned black, strand by strand. Her eyes changing from an expressive green to a brilliantly cold blue. Her chest seemed to grow as well. The entire mannor of the way she held herself changed, she was arrogant, self assertive, and angry.
Fear suddenly gripped her as she looked straight into her own eyes. They gazed back at her, secretive, and smiling.
Well, well, she thought swallowing hard, Chiyo has returned.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Quick Guide to stuff that might have been confusing:
Gaiaku= evil influence
Akutenshi= evil angels
She had read aloud from a web page, '...The most rambunctious of which was a gaiaku that went by the name of Chiyo. Originally a strong demon, Chiyo became powerful enough to ally herself with the Gods and Goddesses as a minor deity. Fire was her main element, though her aim was on love.'
'She was a romantic, falling in love with one mortal, and making him love her in return, then turning on him. Over the centuries she caused hundreds of men to fall in love with her, toying with their emotions even when they loved her of their own free will.'
'Eventually, she caught the attention of another minor God, Mhasori. He saw her beauty and power as an opportunity. Using his skill with words, he manipulated her into joining his forces against the demon world. Together, they started an organization in the heavens called Akutenshi with their sights on earth, and eventually, the universe and heavens beyond.'
'Their possessed warriors began attacking major cities, abolishing the demon populations to prey, later, upon the weaker humans.-'
Slamming into a quickly opened door shook Romi from her thoughts of the evil spirit. She fell on her butt, her school materials flying every which way.
"Sorry Romi!"
She looked up into Suechi's bright eyes. For a second, a shadow rested right above his shoulder and she felt inexplicable anger towards him. Her vision slowly turned red, first around the edges of his form, then spreading to envelope her entire world. Her head ached feriously, but not as fearcly as her heart. For a moment she was no longer Romi, but someone else, evil and powerfully mad. She wanted to rip, tear, claw at the man before her in anyway she could. Cut him to ribbons, feel his blood on her soft skin. Watch him die and excrutiatingly painful death away from all those dear to him. Anything that would make him feel pain, make him suffer at her hands. Lash out now! Jump! Bite his tender, pale, exposed throat! Feel the mortal blood flow into your mouth! Jump!
"I guess I wasn't looking when I opened that door. Allow me to help you pick up your things?" Her offered her a hand up, and instantly she felt like her self again. Not even a second had passed, though it seemed like an eturnity.
"Sure."
They crawled on their knees around the unhelpful peoples' feet, collecting odd pieces of paper, pens, etc. Why did I react that way? She thought, he apologized and offered to help! AND he's my neighbor and sort-of-brother. What is going on?
"Let me walk you to your next class. You're not hurt, are you?"
She shook him off, assuring him she was fine, and left holding her head in one hand.
Communications, or English as the school insisted on calling it, passed slowly. Romi found in hard to concentrate, her head pounded and she found her thoughts returning always to the mysterious shadow called Chiyo. A casual hand dropped beside her and a folded piece of paper touched her knee. She reached down and took the note from Narrin.
'You don't look so good, girl. Are you sure you're not getting sick or something? I mean, I know that the Prof. can drone on sometimes... and that the glare from his head could cause anyone to get a headache, but seriously, you don't look well. -N'
If her English professor caught her passing notes, he'd give her detention... again. But that didn't discourage her this time. How important could acronyms be for him to 'drone on' for twenty minutes already with no sign of stopping?
In her fastest scrawl she scratched a reply.
'Remember when I told you I was seeing things? It happened again. -R'
Narrin's reply was short.
'Told you you were crazy. -N'
'You're not helping! I think it has something to do with Suechi. It appears when I'm with him or have just seen or talked to him. -R'
'Weird. I'm sure it will go away. Tricks of light. You have been stressed a lot lately, are you sure you aren't over doing it? -N'
'I knew it's name. -R'
'meow? -N'
'Whatever it is, it has a name. I did some research on the internet and found some information about an evil spirit/demon by the same name... any thoughts? -R'
'More l8er, baldy's startin' ta glace o'er here more often. -N'
"Miss Romi, see me after class."
Romi slumped in her chair. Why does he alsways go after me? She thought to her self, just because I don't understand his teaching style and no matter how hard I try, I never improve my grades! Is that a reason to start targeting me!?
After class, she dragged herself to the front of the room, her feet feeling heavier every step of the way. The bell that usually brought her happiness and freedom now signified the inevitable lecture approaching.
"I'm noticing your decreased attention span in my class, but if your thoughts must wander, at least don't drag other students down with you." He readjusted his glasses and continued. "I have notice something missing from your essays. You don't seem to be putting your soul into this class. I know you can do better if you give yourself a chance. That's why I'm offering to give you extra help after school twice a week. Volutary, of course, but I strongly suggest it."
Suechi walked by the window, she barely heard the words being directed at her. A shadow crossed her vision... her breathing came harder as she tried to remain calm.
"I-I have to get home!" Romi brushed past her teacher and ran to the waiting bus, early, she was able to find a quiet seat by herself towards the front of the bus.
Her repressed anger seemed to overcome her. She viewed herself as though she was watching herself through someone else's eyes. Her hair turned black, strand by strand. Her eyes changing from an expressive green to a brilliantly cold blue. Her chest seemed to grow as well. The entire mannor of the way she held herself changed, she was arrogant, self assertive, and angry.
Fear suddenly gripped her as she looked straight into her own eyes. They gazed back at her, secretive, and smiling.
Well, well, she thought swallowing hard, Chiyo has returned.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Quick Guide to stuff that might have been confusing:
Gaiaku= evil influence
Akutenshi= evil angels