CH. 7
Ijichi checked his watch for the secondth time, standing on the outskirts of an old, abandoned, and unassuming parking structure, and you still weren't here. You had some time, ten minutes to be exact, so he wasn't too concerned. He just hoped you didn't get sidetracked and importantly you were alright.
He couldn't prevent the worry from clouding his thoughts and thinking of what happened ten years ago. The weather that day, cloudy as though it might rain, Ijichi wondered if that was either an ominous sign or an ill omen, whichever it was you didn't show up.
You didn't pick up any calls.
You weren't in your usual spots. You were just….gone.
Like a wisp.
He nor anyone spotted you diving down from the skies. With your wings out, your mostly preferred method to travel, or you'd arrive with someone, mostly Haibara, if your mjomba allowed, which he always did. A choice he regretted that day. He should have known better to let you fly freely.
Considering you and your mjomba's lineage, especially you. He should have been restrictive, but he didn't want that nor did your mom.
Ijichi checked his watch a third time, it was inching dangerously close to the time. He takes his phone and goes straight to your number. He hovers a finger over your name ready to tap, when he remembers Masamichi, and his eyes scroll down to Masamichi' name.
Should I call, Ijichi mused remembering Masamichi's conversation they had yesterday evening that continued this morning about you.
Ijichi took a deep breath and muttered to himself. Shaking his head with disbelief at Masamichi's words.
"There's no way," he said quietly, with resistance, all while thinking of you ten years ago. He couldn't help the soft smile that appeared fondly.
You were standing next to him, your eyes filled with high spirits, giving him a light nudge in the arm to ease his nervousness. Before the assignment.
"Relax, Ijichi it'll be fine," you said assuringly adding a smile. "Like my mjomba says, 'Funk to the beat.'"
That saying was confusing and Ijichi remembered the perplexed look he gave you. Your mjomba's sayings never made much sense. But whenever you recited them it helped his nerves.
"Ijichi! Ijichi!"
Your voice and arrival grabbed Ijichi's attention, automatically his eyes lifted upward and after adjusting his glasses he spotted you. Flying in, with a mirthful smile. Silently Ijichi sighed relieved as you softly landed before him. Your wings dispel. The first thing he noticed your attire didn't quite frankly seem functional for fighting. He understood why you wore the off-shoulder blouse, for your wings, though the slight plunge it had, wasn't necessary, but the rest he wasn't quite sure.
High-waist dark pants and dark knee-high wedges that almost seamlessly connected with the pants. You looked ready for a runway and restrictive. Your shades, now resting atop your hair didn't help. At least you pulled your hair back into one long. You left some of your hair to frame your face.
You noticed his apparent scrutiny stare and your smile dropped.
"What? What is it?" You asked frowning slightly.
He realized what your callout was and quickly erased the look he had.
"It's nothing. I promise."
You didn't buy it but let it go, "So is this it?" You turn to face the parking structure, you feel the curse energy oozing out.
It was rotten. You almost forgot how horrid the scent was, and resisted the urge to lift a hand over your mouth. Your eyes move along the area, you manage to spot a few smaller curses. Extremely low-level ones, categorizing them as grade 4 was doing a disservice.
Like little ants they were, you always thought. Which meant the main spirit was possibly either grade 2, possibly semi-grade 1.
"The story?" You casually ask Ijichi never breaking your observation.
He took out his tablet and read it, "This site is due for demolition. Which was approved three months ago, however, a month ago a few accidents happened. At they were minimal, but two landed two construction workers in the ER."
"Their injuries?"
"It required some surgery. There were deep lacerations for one. The other ended up in a coma. They haunted construction for the time being. Which left it open for middle schoolers and high schoolers to play."
Your heart dropped hearing that.
He continued, "Three students have gone missing. Reports say when they reach the center something attacks."
"Of course. What do you know about the curse?"
He scrolled down on the file, "It's a grade 2. Hostile."
"Isn't that most of them," you said with an obvious tone.
Ijichi smiled to himself but remained focused, "Yes. There isn't much else about it. Sorry."
You give him a light pat on the shoulder, "It's fine. Alright, I better get inside and finish. Hey, let's me okay? Like we used to do."
He was shocked, "Are you serious? Do think is even the time?"
You couldn't but laugh softly, almost properly like in your hand. Before you used to just laugh with some manners but not this conceal.
Ijichi's eyes dropped slightly noticing.
"Okay, okay no timing," you dismiss the idea, and begin walking towards the structure.
"Wait!" Ijichi remembered the curtain and something else, you stop and turn around to him. "Hold on. Masamichi wanted me to give you something."
You quirk a curious brow and watch him go to the car parked right behind him. He opened the trunk, reached in, and took out something long, wrapped up in a cloth. He shut the trunk and came over to you, presenting them. When he unwrapped the cloth and you saw what was in there your eyes widened three times their size, and your breath even escaped you.
It was Zabari's two khopeshs, one blade was sharpened ivory, and the other sharpened ebony. They didn't look centuries old and still held their youth as if time never touched them and they still had their engravings across the blade and on their hilt.
You couldn't believe they were….Masamichi had these. The realization hit you for a moment, your mjomba he left these in Masamichi's care which….an ache grabbed your heart. Slowly you reach for them and respectfully slip your hand under each hilt and grip them.
They didn't weigh a ton but it felt like it, Zabari wielded these with such ease, and others too. But these were his extensions, the power and strength you could feel it.
These were the tools of a medjay, and despite his goofy handsome face, he was one of the fiercest. But when a medjay….turned over their khopesh.
Guilt pinched you.
Ijichi observed you quietly. The soft reflection in your eyes was evident, the next part was if you'd take them. By inheritance they were yours.
Your hands trembled slightly, and you quickly let go of them.
You couldn't use them. Ijichi held in his surprise but his eyes showed it with some sympathy and worry.
"Goodness," you chuckle trying hard not to show any nervousness and turn away from the items, "they haven't changed one bit. I don't need them right now. But thank you."
Ijichi wrapped back up, "Oh okay."
You give him a quick smirk and snap back to the structure.
"Better do the curtain. Otherwise, I'll get an earful from Masamichi."
You now smiled pleasantly at him. He was about to say something but withheld and put the curtain up.
Once it was done you make your way to the spirit. You chose to walk leisurely, Ijichi watched you nonchalantly enter without a second thought. When you were inside he took out his phone.
The place was dusty, moldy, and spacious. Carefully you walk through ignoring the lesser curses, you'll deal with them soon. You just needed to make your way to the center. You walk up the levels until you reach what you believe to be the center. You forgot to ask Ijichi how many levels. Luckily you followed the curse energy.
You reach the area hear heavy, disgusting breathing. It was possibly a large curse from what it sounds like, a playful smile tug on your lips thinking of how you used to, with Haibara rate the ugliness of the spirit.
You wondered, before making your presence known to the creature, what rating he'd give.
"Always the sentimental," Suguru's words teasingly echoing your mind.
You stop for a moment and grab your locket. He was right, you were. But you couldn't be right now. Letting go of the locket you step out making the creature aware of your presence.
It was ugly. Large, bipedal, scaly curse with a gaping mouth filled with the goofiest teeth that no doubt would crush bones. It had a long tail with a hard ball on the end and oversized claws. Its eyes were in the center of its palms, one purple one brown and they looked right at you.
You didn't move an inch, your eyes unyielding matching your stance. Your petite and delicate appearance was always an assumption to many, and before it was. The creature no doubt thought the same, the vicious grin stretching across its face and hideous cackling proved it.
By all accounts, its size could easily take you and its strength too. But you weren't grade 2 and more.
You were a grade 1 now.
You might be a bit rusty, but with just a bit of oil, you'd be just fine.
"Please, allow me to introduce myself," you said politely with a bow, "I am May Geto. But presently go by my father's name, Bishop. A pleasure to meet you."
The curse was taken back for a moment, you lifted your head and your eyes locked with the creatures.
"Shall we begin?" You invite, bringing up your arms and crossing them gracefully before you, and whisper, "domain expansion."
Outside Ijichi watched the black sphere of curse energy cover the structure. His mouth nearly gapped amazed seeing it, your energy output was nothing like ten years ago.
The domain sphere lasted for another second it vanished. Ijichi picked up no ounce of curse energy or saw and curses. He did see you fly out and land before him effortlessly.
"And done," you said proudly, with humility, it showed in your smile.
He fixed his glasses, smiling, "That has to be a record."
"I suppose we shall never know," you laugh a little behind your hand, "now let's get something to eat. My treat."
You pat him lightly on the shoulder and walk around him to the passenger side of the card.