We were on the campus grounds and are walking towards the dorms. Mizumi was behind me, silent.
"Wait, I forgot," I said. "Where's that letter of yours?"
"Oh, right!" She said. "It's in my room, but it's locked and I don't know where my keys went after they gathered my belongings in the scene after I died."
She pointed at the second floor, where there is an open window.
"Hmmm..." I thought of a way on how to get the letter, but I remembered about Kotengu, so I pulled out my paper doll. I noticed that the ribbon was not there.
"Wait," I facepalmed. "I forgot to seal him in the paper doll."
A sudden short screech bursts next to me, which made me jump. I looked and saw that it was Kotengu. "Kotengu? What are you doing here? Anyways, since you are here, can you please grab her letter in that room?"
I pointed to her room. Kotengu looked up then looked at me.
"Wait!" She exclaims. "The letter is color pink and has hearts all over it."
"Heard that Kotengu?" I looked at him. "The letter is pink and has hearts in it. You think you could get it for me?"
He screeches and took off from the ground and flew to her room.
"Nice bird you got there." She smiles as she says.
I rub the back of my neck. "Heh, thank you."
It did not take him a minute to grab the letter. Kotengu lands, the letter in his beak. I took the letter and rubbed his head. "Thanks, Kotengu!"
I noticed that he also brought a necklace with him. "Hey, where did you get that?! Come on, bring that back in that room!"
Mizumi waved a hand. "Nah, it's okay. It's one jewelry."
I shrug. "Well, if you say so."
I looked at the letter, then back at Mizumi. "So, let's go."
I walked and found House 13. I took a peek at the window and saw the guy was there, watching T.V.
"By the way, his name is Jin Watanabe. He's a pretty nice guy, so he'll believe you when you tell him that we have the same P.E. class and that we became friends there."
"Okay, got it." I stepped in front of his door and took a deep breath. I proceed with a knock.
"Just a sec!" A faint voice yells from behind the door. The door opened and I was met by Jin Watanabe, a man slightly taller than me and has a pretty nice build. His brown eyes met me with a welcoming smile as he brushes his black hair upwards. "Yes? Who may you be?"
Behind me, I hear small muffles. She seems to be crying.
I gave a small wave. "Um, hello. I'm Kazu Shinozaki. You must be Jin Watanabe, right?" God, I'm pretty awkward.
"Yeah! So, what's up?"
"Well," I raised the letter. "I have something from Mizumi Yamato, and she wants me to give this to you before she died."
His mood went downside but still forces a smile. "Please, come in."I removed my shoes and set them aside near the door before entering.
"Please, sit down." He motioned at the couch. I sat down. "So, how did you know Mizumi?"
Just like what Mizumi said, then I'll just make it up as we go through. "I met her at P.E. class. We got paired in an activity. She's really friendly, so we became friends easily."
"Hmm. Why didn't she told me about you?"
"Well, we really didn't talk until two weeks ago, when we got paired in an activity, as I said."
"Well, she is pretty secretive too, so that's probably why she didn't tell me."
Mizumi walked behind him. I should probably give him the letter. I reached out to him with the letter in my hand. "Well, she asked me to give you this the day she was supposed to meet you, but you know, she..."
He took the letter and looked at it. He was getting a little teary. He opened it and proceeded to read the letter.
"Dear Jin," Mizumi behind him seems to be reading it out loud."I don't know why I still need to make a letter to tell you this, probably it's because you're an idiot. Hahaha just kidding. But seriously, I just want to thank you for everything. Since the day we met, you became the friend that I never found in others. You were always there for me in times of need. You always find a way to make me laugh. I know that I always call you stupid and an idiot, but that's my way of showing my affection towards you. What I am trying to say is, I love you Jin. I love you with all my heart. I feel completely secure when I am with you and you gave me all the love you have. After this, can you please go out with me, but this time, a date. I'm not forcing you, but I want you to be my boyfriend and I hope that it's possible. Again, it is entirely up to your decision. I'm happy enough to tell you what I feel about you. Thank you for reading this and, I'll say it again. I LOVE YOU. Signed, Mizumi Yamato."
Tears began to trickle from his cheeks and it dropped onto the paper. "Dang, I was about to do the same thing."
He hugged the letter. "I wish I could've told you sooner." He began to sob uncontrollably.Behind him, Mizumi tried to hug him as she cried with him. "There, there. Don't cry because I'm gone. What matters is that I was there, and always will be in your heart."
My heartstrings are easily pulled, so I was also crying, but not that much. Tears were just trickling in my cheeks.
From there, Mizumi began to glow like the sun, and a ray of light appeared above her. And that, Thanatos appeared beside her.
Thanatos looked at me, smiling. "Good job Kazu."
He then looks at Mizumi. "It's time. Are you ready to go?"
She nods. She looks at Jin one more time. "Goodbye Jin."
She held Thanatos' hand and ascended with him.
***
"Shinozaki, thank you so much for doing this. It means a lot to me." Jin smiles.
"No problem! You can talk to me anytime you need it, okay?"
He nods. Before we parted ways, we exchanged contacts. I said goodbye before leaving. As I walk, Kotengu lands in front of me, a note in its mouth. I took it and read it.
You've completed your first case. You can go home and take a rest now. Return at any time you have free time.
"Oh, okay. Thanks, Kotengu!"
He just tilts his head. "Oh!"
I pulled out his paper doll. "Is it okay if I seal you back in this paper doll?"
He rapidly nods and immediately kneeled like I was a king.
"Uhh, okay." I placed the paper doll oo top of his head and just like last time, he turned into a red ribbon and wrapped itself in the paper. As I put the paper doll in my pocket, I dropped the paper that Thanatos sent me. As I pick it up, there are more messages in it.
Your training to become an Onmyoji will also start when you return.
I rub the back of my head and sighed. Well, looks like there is no turning back now. If I have to face more dangerous Yokai as I do this job, then I need to at least learn how to control them.I walk towards my dorm and told Hanzo everything about that happened.
***
[Narration]
Up in the Izanami Mountains, the statue of Izanami stood, the night breeze hitting against it.Behind the torii (Shinto Shrine gate) is a large boulder with a shimenawa (a hemp rope or rice straw used in Shinto purification and acts as a ward for evil spirits) tied in front of it.Suddenly, it cracked and made a small hole. Eerie noises and voices began to spread out from the hole.
[CHAPTER 2 CONCLUDED]
[TO BE CONTINUED....]