Chapter 3: Hell's Bracelet

'Enzeru Yuri is the one who needs to know.'

Yes, that's right.

I sat in front of the mirror. It's unthinkable that someone else bears the same face, I thought.

I picked up the brush and began to groom my long, black hair. I have been restless since Yuri's appearance. Slowly, I brush my hair.

I looked up at the mirror, and saw the little girl.

Brown-haired and purple-eyed, Kikuri beheld a mischievous smile upon her lips.

'Enzeru Yuri is a nuisance, isn't she, Ai?'

'No, she is not.'

Kikuri grinned even wider.

'She may not be now, but she will be. She's not human. She may cause problems for you, Ai.'

'She will not.'

Kikuri tilted her head to the side, as I continued to brush my hair.

'If you insist so, Ai.' Kikuri giggled, hiding it behind one hand. She ran off, closing the door behind her.

Creaaaaaaaaaaaak.

The door slid open, and Hone Onna appeared.

'Ojou?'

I put down the brush, and eyed her reflection in the mirror.

'Ojou, what are you going to to do?'

'Nothing needs to be done.'

'What of Enzeru Yuri? Didn't you say that she needed to know... Know what?'

'A certain matter that will prove to be her destiny.'

Hone Onna frowned, and tapped her chin.

'How do you intend on... Informing her on such matter?'

I stood up, and turned.

'She will soon find out.'

***

Driiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.

Finally, the end of class.

I stood up and took my bag. I did not need to study, review, or do my homework. In fact, I had finished all worksheets that were in the book. It would be a waste of time to do everything again. Especially when you have all the time in the world.

I was first to walk out of class, and I met strange glances on the way out of the campus. People moved away from me, as if afraid to touch, or to even meet my gaze.

I went on, ignoring them. I was used to such reaction. Always the exact same reaction.

The walk home was long. I arrived at a small flat, just as it was sunset.

A place that I must call home, for this year.

I never linger in the same place for more than a year and a half. People would then notice that I never grew an inch, my hair never growing, my features unchanging.

One other sad reason for being immortal.

I opened the door to my house, and removed my shoes, setting them neatly on the rug.

I trudged upstairs to my room, dropping my bag next to my desk. Opening the closet, I changed into something more comfortable, a loose shirt and jeans. Folding my school clothes, I put it aside for laundry.

A gust of wind greeted my windows, and ruffled my hair. I stood up, and made to close the windows.

As I finished, I turned.

I could have sworn I was looking at myself. A reflection on the mirror, I could have said.

But she wasn't. She wasn't a reflection, nor an illusion. She was real.

Jigoku Shoujo.

Now I knew why.

She held out her closed hand to me, and beckoned. I was stunned, not knowing what to do.

I took a step closer.

She closed her eyes, and opened her hand.

She held a bracelet, similar to the one she wore herself.

From it hung a ruby taking on the shape of a cherry.

An identical bracelet... A symbol of eternal friendship.

I began to remember.

'Enma... Ai?'

***

She took the bracelet from my hand, my beloved friend...

And then I disappeared into the shadows.

Reappearing at my current place of residency, I walked past Hone Onna, Wanyuudon, and Ichimoku Ren.

All three would be wondering where I went.

Before I went inside, I took one last, long look at the sun.

'It's beautiful, isn't it, Ojou?' Wanyuudon shared, looking up at the sky.

Wanyuudon knew me all too well.

I said nothing, agreeing with him in silence.

I left him on the porch, and went inside the house.

'Ojou, you have a message.'