Chapter 1: Do not feed the Ayakashi
11. I was walking through the fish markets shopping street, ‘Fishmachi’. It is quite a calm shopping district especially for the elderly. Although there is such a thing called early morning, that explains why there is not even a single child playing in
the lonesome street and why the arcade is still locked up, it has become quite old. Everytime the strong spring wind blows, it makes a disgusting sound with a loud screech. However, there was something like a black shadowed figure moving slightly in the skeleton of the building supporting the arcade. Without people around,“They,” are doomed. Often I check the surroundings and notice
something is also moving in the clear of the alley. Although I notice their existence I look forward towards the sounds of cuteness. Then, I start walking and walk even faster. That was concerning. A cool gaze, it was definitely aimed towards me, although I decided to ignore it from the start. Starting today I am a sophomore in college. From the tuition fee grandfather left, I’ve studied hard in order to get a proper job, I have to achieve this goal.
12. As soon as I pass through the shopping street I can see Torii gate of an old shrine across the road. It is the entrance for a shrine that sits on the top of the hill, on both sides of the long stone steps that cross the Torii gate are cherry blossoms in full bloom. The colour of red Torii on the stone steps stands out more vividly than usual. It is because of, that. I notice that someone is sitting under the red Torii. I get frustrated. He wears an ogre mask and is dressed suspiciously in a black kimono. “……” The early morning is normally quite refreshing, however, a lump forms in my throat as I breathe. That moment, accompanied by the irregular movements of scattered cherry blossoms hit me with a mysterious sensation. It seems at first glance this person has a doubtful appearance. An Ayakashi. Even though I noticed it, it didn’t take long. Reflexively, I raise an eyebrow. It will be a difficult face to hold. With Ayakashi as their name suggest they are not human beings. They are also commonly known as youkai. ‘They,’ cannot be seen by regular people, they’ve caused evil. Their existence is quite popularly known, although heavily debated. It’s strange. Because of them, there are cases that can simply not be solved, they can also cause bad things.
13. However, not all their wrongdoings are evil. They are indeed on both a whim accompanied by weird moods. They have strange personalities, most of them are driven into the corners of human society, living like that eternally. I try to avoid being involved with them as much as possible. For them, this modern Japanese society seems to be difficult to live in. When they have nothing to
eat and are starving, they will attack and try to eat humans. Although there are bad ayakashi that attack people, in most cases that is their only choice in order to live. It is cruel. It is easy to be targeted by them. The ones easiest to target are the humans that can see them “Ah, I’m hungry, I’m hungry.” The awkwardness of the face staring at me from under the red Torii is tense, this situation is obviously so obscure. At those words, I raised my eyebrow in alarm. He is neither going to come down nor going to give up. He’s just hungry. “I am hungry.” It was a pain. Although it cannot be helped, I have never talked to an Ayakashi before nor have I talked about the things I’ve seen because I am afraid. I do not return words. If you see them, do not get injured. I thought I would show fear if I stopped by him, instead, I turned away in a panic trying to escape this place, trying to leave.
14. But I ended up stopping in the middle of the path. Tilting my neck after the ordeal I turned back. I went up the stone steps of the shrine and came up to the ogre’s face wearing the black kimono, I stood there dignifiedly. The Ayakashi in front of me is now lying without tension as if there is no one around him. Again I was a little hesitant, his tightening expression is frightening, I am afraid of his mask. Still, I offer him a lunch box. “Hey you, you can eat this, it was my lunch box.” The Ayakashi got up slowly and looked at me. “You are hungry, are you not? If you stay like this you’ll starve and then you may start causing trouble
by attacking humans.” I am afraid of the Ayakashi’s face, I was staring to a point that it became obvious. The Ayakashi slowly turns towards the lunch box, reaching out from the long sleeve of his kimono, he grabs the box. His hand was the same size as a normal human boy, though his nails were a little long. When grabbing the lunch box he slightly scratches the back of my hand. It stings. The Ayakashi opens the lid of the lunchbox. Cherry blossom plums and white rice make up half of the lunch box. The ingredients were extremely simple, plum flavouring and baked ginger are the lead ingredients.
15. Aside from the lotus root, simmered mustard spinach and deep-fried tofu, shimeji and mibake fried in bonito and the fried-egg with spring onion omelette. Aside from white rice, there are also two bamboo shoots.“……..” For awhile the Ayakashi stared at the contents of the lunchbox, finally he shifted the mask slightly to expose his mouth. Unexpectedly, he had the face of a young
man. Ayakashi’s may be able to change their appearances for their age. He holds his chopsticks in a polite manner, surprising for an Ayakashi. “Let’s eat.” He says as he takes a bite first eating the lotus root. I look at the dish I cooked whilst gazing at the place where the Ayakashi is eating. I gave a sigh. Ah, I’m really stupid. Doing something like that means I’m going to be hungry.
“Well, I’ve to go to because I have college. Just leave the lunchbox somewhere around here when you’re finished and I’ll pick it up on my way home.” The Ayakashi continued eating in-between with quiet mumbling, but when I turned back I could hear a calm voice mumble. “It was delicious, Aoi.”
16. I was a little surprised by those words, I stop in spite of this. I think that it was pleasant of him to compliment the food saying it was delicious. But, I did not want to show carelessness to this person I’d only met for the first time. “So do not lose it,” I answered bluntly with a bullish attitude. I turned and walked down the stone steps without looking back, heading shyly towards the station. “How did he know my name?” On the way, my light blue dress turned and fluttered lightly as I stared at the forest and hills surrounding a shrine that could be seen in the distance. Small cherry blossom petals dust my shoulder as they fall to the ground. Even though, it is very strange that I met that man. Even so, encounters with them are very sudden most of the time and unavoidable. For me, I have the ability to see them, though I dislike some of the things they do I try to ignore them. In this modern society Ayakashi, have an existence familiar to humans because some of them live quietly. “Eho eho.”
17. Also, on the bank of the stream to the side of the station certain Ayakashi live there. They are small kappa’s. They’re the size of a handball and look like round mascot characters. My grandfather called them,'Tsumaru Kappa.’ They live in herds because they are weak, lower grade Ayakashi, using their cute appearances to get people to feed them. “Aoi-shama, cucumber pwease!” The come over to me in a hurry. “Wait a minute,” I say letting the Tsumaru Kappa wait for a little, making sure there’s no one else around. I always go to college
early in the morning because of these little guys. Removing the container from a plastic bag, there is a lot of rice balls in it. I pick up a rice ball with small cucumber, chicken sobe in miso sauce and some brown rice. After all, the Kappa absolutely love cucumbers. When I feed them it reminds me of throwing bread on to a carp pond as a fierce battle for the rice starts. “I wonder if the Kappa ever get much to eat in this cold world, life must be difficult?”
“Shank you! Kappa has been fed by the Aoi.” Whilst showering them with food as a welcome present a Tsumaru Kappa hugs the rice balls
and rubs up against my ankle.
18. It’s cute but can sometimes be irritating. Investing time into these guys can be somewhat fun and interesting. Whilst holding the container and bag I pat the Tsumaru Kappa walking around me. “Hey now, you guys shouldn’t rely on me forever, go back to the river quickly I can’t be seen talking to you guys or I’ll be treated as suspicious since the general public cannot see you Kappa’s.”
Their eyes became glassy like marbles, the Kappa refusing to let go of my ankle as he looks at my mouth wide open, hands in the air. I tilted my head towards him.“Are you still hungry?”
“Things were so overwhelming.” Said the Kappa beginning to raise his tone as he complained. I narrowed my eyes at them whilst holding down my anger. I overlooked them.“Come on. You all should know that I’m not in the mood right now. So if you have complaints I’ll pack you up and deep fry you with oil and tempura then eat it.”
“Nooo, do not eat Kappa! We taste bad.”
“Liars, my grandpa said it’d taste just like fried chicken.”
“Aaaaahhhhhhh!!!.” The Kappa’s gave me a pale concrete look shaking their beaks as they rolled and returned into the river.
19.“Geez, those low-class Kappas.” Whilst playing with my hair, I quietly murmured all of my complaints. But, whenever I come here I still bring rice to those Kappas. Today I feel like I want to put up a sign that says,'Please do not feed the Kappas.’ “Aoi-shan!”
“Hmm, what’s wrong?” One small Kappa the size of a hand-ball was still at my feet. Probably a child amongst Kappa standards. Chibi sat down at my feet, eyes hanging towards me. “Because in this world I am weak, so I am hungry.” I will tell you a heart aching truth, he probably missed his chance to eat. “I have no choice.” Taking a moment to sigh, I take from the bag the rice balls that were supposed to be for myself. Chibi is sitting down frolicking flapping his limbs around. “Thank shu very much!”
“They were going to be for me, so you better enjoy it.”
“Love,” Chibi says with a bruised replied as he eats in an ecstatic manner. While crouching and look at him, I point at his food stuffed swollen cheeks with my index finger. “Delicious?” I asked. Chibi replied with a little nod.
20.“Aoi-shan is a strange person. Aoi-shan is a person who gives yummy rice to Ayakashi’s.”
“Well, there are only a few people who can see Ayakashi’s.”
“Those who can see us normally try and erase us!”
“If I had that much power, I guess I would too.” I responded appropriately, looking at Chibi who was still eating.“
"Aoi-shan is too nice for that and I would not do that, I know this.”
“……” The Kappa laughed with his nose in the air, standing up and hitting his knee. I cannot keep feeding these Kappa’s, because around this time people will start walking through the streets. If you were found talking alone in a place where no one else is around it would surely look bad and suspicious. From an early age, I was not like everyone else, I could see the Ayakashi. Because of this unique skill, my mother detested me and others thought me to be creepy. My grandfather, Shiro Tsubaki, rescued me from that loneliness. He was also able to see the Ayakashi.
21. My grandfather’s name was well known amongst the Ayakashi. Moreover, it was not only humans that disliked my grandfather, although it can not be helped. Because of my grandfather, I was involved in troubles relating to Ayakashis many times. In such cases, I will always offer them some of my cooking first. There are many things that Ayakashi’s can be hungry for, however. If their hunger goes unchecked for too long they will take the initiative and try to eat a human. Especially humans with strong spiritual power, like me. In short, it
is even easier for me to be targetted. However, offering hungry Ayakashi food first it can be avoided to some extent. Well, there are also personal reasons why I don’t let Ayakashi’s starve regardless of that factor. Before my grandfather took me in, my life was saved by a kind and mysterious Ayakashi. There was a time during my early childhood when I was starving and dying of hunger. A strange Ayakashi then appeared before me and shared some food. Hunger is very painful. Whether it is a human being or an Ayakashi, it is not something
you can silence. So I can not ignore hungry Ayakashi’s and will always feed them.
22. Now, it’s time to go home. I get off at the nearest station towards Tamari Kawadami river, where I live. It is near the shrine and Fishmachi shopping district. I still have to collect the lunchbox I gave to the Ogre Ayakashi this morning. That damned Ayakashi, he better have eaten it. He was not there anymore, but as I climbed the stone steps and passed under the red torii the lunch box I had given him this morning had been gently wrapped in a towel with a magical pattern embroidered on it. As time passed many cherry blossoms
had piled around. On the knot of the hand towel, I noticed a flower ornament had been inserted. “Hmm, a towel and an ornament, a gift perhaps?” Unexpectedly I decided to sit down on the stone staircase, taking the hair ornament from the knot and raising it into the air. It seems very expensive and of good quality. It was a bud of a small camellia, which is out of season at the moment. I wonder if it is made out of glass, or if there are any made out of stone? I can’t keep my eyes off of the clear red crystal. “Pretty..” It is quiet, it seems no one else is around.
23.Whilst spinning the ornament around the sunbeams sparkle off of it and catch my eye. The wind blows strongly, causing the trees to shake. The cherry blossoms scattered around, it brings a mysterious hue to the camellia bud hair ornament. “Ah, I wonder if that guy ate all of the lunch properly.” I untie the wrapped lunch box, checking its contents. It had been washed thoroughly. “Maybe it was a nice Ayakashi?” The towel then started to expand, the sunlight from the afternoon shone through the dense cotton cloth. The patterned
towel keeps expanding, what’s happening? I’m unsure. But, instantly I start to notice the abnormalities. The towel begins to move freely
as if it is a living creature dancing in the air right before my eyes. The four corners of the towel stretched and pulled, seeming to fold over and stick together in front of me. “Ha…?” I feel fluffy, I couldn’t even blink, this is embarrassing. I can’t keep my eyes off the towel, the earthworm pattern continues to wander around on the cloth, gathering at some point, a huge black circle appears on the cloth.
24. Suddenly the black circle jumps out of the cotton cloth painting my vision dark like black ink. It’s afternoon so it should be bright. Nevertheless, I wonder what this darkness is? I start to lose consciousness in this darkness, I feel as if I am falling. The bubbles in my chest are fierce. There is no sound, I feel as if I am being thrust down into warm water, I can feel it. The bubbles enveloping my
body. I can’t do anything but continue to fall deeper into the warm water. I desperately tried to struggle in the water. Suddenly, a light can be seen in the distance, desperately I try to reach out. Something then takes a grip of my arm and pulls on it strongly.'Welcome to the Hidden Realm, my bride.’ Someone whispers in my ear. I remember it from somewhere, it was the low voice of that Ogre Ayakashi.