Khaya led her down to House Shinya, the two entering the dormitory building as the prowling gaze of young girls followed them. She had no idea why they stared and whispered. First those girls at the tuition school, now these one. It shouldn't have been something extraordinary, a man paired with a woman. This was normal, something she expected and anticipated. But as for them and their inquisitive eyes, what did they want? The sheer sense that they were trying to probe into their thoughts had her skin crawl. What did they want to know? Did they already know who she was, where she came from and her history? It left a ball of uneasiness to simmer in her stomach. At this point, she could only pray that her roommates wouldn't be as invasive.
"You feel that too, right?" she asked, stepping closer to him, avoiding the girls they passed as they walked down the hall.
"Feel what?"
"Like they're watching us." A cluster of girls were rushing down the hall. Alora stiffened as their bodies squeezed through the small space left. She drew closer to Khaya, trying to avoid any skin contact with them.
"Isn't this interesting?" he asked. He pulled her in, wrapped his hand round her shoulder and pulled them to the left face of the wall. He whipped up his charming smile and leaned against the wall. "You seem more comfortable around me than you do them. I was told you're difficult, stubborn and a bit of a killjoy. But I guess I've totally enchanted you enough to feel safe around me."
She scoffed, "Don't get ahead of yourself. I just don't like being observed, especially when I can't think straight."
"You'll get used to it."
"Let's just get to the room please. I really need to go to sleep," she said, wiping her face.
Khaya shrugged, then pushed himself of the wall. The two began walking again, to the end of the hall. From there, they turned left, and went past three doors till they got to room 8.
"Right here. Just knock," he said.
Alora did as told, planting three firm knocks against the cedar wood door. A high-pitched voice from inside called out, "Coming." As they waited for her, the sound of low shuffles of bodies and clattering objects drifted out through the cracks; a sharp thud, then it went silent.
The door went clack, peeled open to reveal the rooms occupant. "Can I help you?" she asked. Sleek coal coloured hair tied up into two twin buns, bold red eyes lined with wingtip eyeliner, all set on a rounded face with fleshy cheeks.
"I expected you'd act a little house friendly for our guest," Khaya said, his face hardened with seriousness, displeased as the girl glared at him.
"Who? Her?"
"Yes," he said. "This is Alora. Your new roommate."
Alora cracked a small smile. It wasn't the warmest welcome, the girl looking her up and down. If anything, Alora had grown accustomed to questionable gazes; it reminded her of the countless nights her, her father, and Uncle Yasuo would visit inns and motels during their missions.
"Your Alora?" she asked, brow lifted in disbelief.
"I am."
"You're smaller than I expected," said the girl. "I expected someone a little taller, a little lean. I'm starting to think all that buzz about you was just cheap talk. Seeing how you're a little fleshy and," the girl extended her neck and looked to Alora's rear, "A little on the peachy side."
"Wow," Alora chuckled. It stung a little, the clear pointer to her body. It made her think she should have listened to her teachers back in Asale, perhaps those waist beads wouldn't be a total waste after all. "I'm sorry if I've misrepresented myself, that's on me. But if you're a bit sceptic of my ability, I'd be more than happy to prove myself."
The girl's eye's widened with curiosity. She crept out from behind the door, and shut it, keeping herself an arm's length away from Alora. Her eyes lazily dragged over the tattoo peaking on Alora's shoulder, misty sweets of thick black lines that hadn't taken full form. Despite Alora being a little chubbier than most students, the girl couldn't deny her toned arms and small waist.
"I'm Ryoko," she said. "Listen, it's almost midnight, and that means the yokai will be coming out for their nightly parade. You can stay in the room and try sleep, or you can come with us, and show us what you can really do."
"Is this a challenge?" Alora asked, eyes round in curiosity.
Ryoko shrugged, giving a tempting smile, "It depends. How strong do you claim to be?"
"Not tonight. I don't play during missions. And, right now, I'm focused on getting some sleep."
Ryoko chuckled, "Alright," she said, turning and opening the door. "You go on in. I need to talk to Khaya for a bit. There are three beds inside, one is mine, one is yours, and the other Vanya's. She's not here now, but, on her behalf, don't touch her stuff. Okay?"
Alora nodded. She began her walk into the dimly lit room, the lingering whisps of smoke still lingering. Remembering her partner, she turned around and gave him a quick wave. He smiled and waved back, before Ryoko shot her a glare and shut the door.
A little prudish, but not enough to be of concern. Alora went to the bed with a white sheet, by the window, the gleaming moonlight falling onto it. She took in the layout, three wardrobes on the northern face, stretching up to the high ceiling. Each a different colour with a name on it. The ivory one was Vanya's, the rose-gold one was Ryoko's and the cedar one was Alora's. There was a ladder mounted against the wall to climb up to the top shelves within the wardrobes.
On the Southern face were the beds, lined up but far apart, stretching across the room. Each bed again was distinct from the other, Vanya's sheets were green, Ryoko's black and Alora's white. There were vanity tables next to each bed stocked up with feminine beauty and hygiene products. And that included Alora's though she didn't bring any products. The only culprits she could point the mysterious appearance of these items were Shizuka and her mother. But it's not like she could throw them away. They saved her the trouble of having to buy her own so, a plus one in her books.
The wooden floor was well shined but not slippery, and the array of weapons hung on the eastern face were neatly placed: two two-meter Kyudo bows, three fencing sabres, a katana, an assegai, and a golden spear.
Alora sighed in relief; it didn't seem too bad; A warm room, space and a bed that stood on its own, already clean and prim. She kicked her boots off and jumped onto her bed. The pillow fluffed, and the mattress soft as she sunk into its warmth.
Her thoughts blurred together, and surely, before she could undress into her nightgown, or even take of her belt of daggers, she fell asleep.
*
The sun was still low in the horizon, barely having peaked over the mountains.
A cold hand placed itself on Alora's shoulder, rocking her furiously awake.
Alora opened her eyes, vision blurred as Ryoko's head hung itself over hers.
"Wake up," Ryoko said, an avid scowl plastered on her pale skin. "We have classes in two hours. Headmaster isn't around now, so after getting ready, we head straight for the classrooms."
Ryoko pulled herself off Alora's bed and went to her vanity table. She began fiddling with a handful of hair clips and ties, twisting and tying her hair up into two mini buns. The rouge on her lips popped, paired with her scarlet eyes and coal coloured hair. Those were the few things that Alora could make out in the blur of her vision, the only thing aside from Ryoko's spiteful aura that told Alora she was talking to a friend, not foe.
The flame within her chest burled as she eased into the cool morning air. A sting in her heart, griping it and forcing it to pump harder. She was secure, no need to stay on edge. But the flame within couldn't grasp that concept, swelling up and heating her body, sending her mind into a dark tunnel that narrowed down a path to the array of weapons stocked up for murderous intents.
Alora propped her elbows down to push herself up from the bed, but as she began to rise, the darkness thickened, and vision blurring much more severely. She could barely make out the shapes in the room, her head struggling to make sense of what she was looking at. Blood lust was knocking at the door to her mind, but like her mother taught her, she had to keep it out.
She rolled off the bed and onto the floor, hitting the carpet with a mighty force. Alora was quick to rip of her hand wraps from the day before, scattering them all over the floor. Crawling like an insect, she made her way to her vanity table, bumping into the solid wood furniture with grunts from the pain. Her skin itched as it heated up, a dull bell ringing through her ear, the sound of distant knells. She huddled up beneath the table, pressing her hands to her ears to soften the rings shooting through her eardrums.
Ryoko looked down on her, "Are you okay?"
"More or less. I just need to take my medication." Alora climbed up on to the stool and sat herself down. But just as she straightened her posture to look into the mirror, she fell back down onto the ground with a loud thud.
Ryoko came over, rolled Alora on to her back. "Which drawer is it in?"
"I don't know. I didn't pack my stuff away."
Ryoko huffed out, "Okay. Then, how is it packaged? Does it have a name?"
"It's intravenous medication. There should be a bottle with a green substance. The label has my name on it."
Ryoko clenched her jaw with closed eyed. She gave a tightened nod, then went to the vanity table, pulling open the drawers. Her fingers ran through the array of things inside: bandages, thermometers, ointments, needles, and other little trinkets such as sets of lion's teeth and peacock feathers. Buried in the back part of the drawers were packs of syringes and the medicinal jars. Ryoko grabbed them and went back to Alora's side.
"Is there a certain way to administer it?"
Alora, with a strained voice said, "No. Anywhere will do. Just jab in 10 milligrams and I'll be fine."
Ryoko nodded. "Don't need to disinfect the area? I didn't see any alcohol swabs."
"For now, no. I just really you to inject me."
Ryoko did as told, pumping the syringe full of the prescribed measurement. The glowing green filled with shimmers of glitter was thick in the tube as Ryoko carefully examined it, removing any air bubbles trapped inside. It proved to be a challenge as the liquid was quite thick, but after a few grunts of fury and taps against the plastic syringe, she managed to get all the bubbles out. Ryoko stuck the needled into Alora's thigh, and slowly pumped the fluid into her body.
The heat began to dissipate, the darkness scattering and clearing as the burning in Alora's chest went into a low simmer. Cooling down as she went flaccid, and eyes finally saw the clear features of Ryoko's glassy skin. She stared lazily at Ryoko, "Thank you."
Ryoko rolled her eyes, "I can't necessarily leave you, can I."
The bell rung, and it was time for Alora's first lesson at the Academy. Teachers made their rounds, dressed to impress with freshly sown uniforms from the divisions they served. Some in stark blue blazers, others dressed in black from head to toe. A lot were martial art masters, dressed in the robes of their specific disciplines, orange, black and white. She was most stricken by the capoeira masters in their loose-fitting linen trousers and casual black tops. Wanting to hone her skills in her preferred art, she remembered them, the details of their faces and made a mental note to look for them later to get some extra training if time allowed. Aside from them, one of the teachers who caught her eye was an Asalen male warrior, dark brown skin as he wore a peach-coloured suit, tapping down the hall with his cane, a skull carved into the knob. His hair was a wild nest of netted locks, tied to the back with stark streaks of silver. There were distinct slashes running down his grainy cheeks, claw marks, purposefully etched there. She could tell which tribe he was from, and which War-Chief he served: a friendly man who apparently was friends with her father. But Alora's father was known to be friends with everyone. She turned away and kept on walking.
The students were all hued into one pack of colourful sardines drifting up and down the halls. Ginger heads, kinky hair, slanted eyes, and hooked nosed fellows all proudly interacting. From all over the world, their individuality reduced to the bland and simple uniforms they wore. For the girls, white blouses, black pleated skirts, and the option to either wear black pantihose or black socks. For the boys, white shirts, and black slacks. They all had a choice to wear whatever shoe of their choice and had the liberty to add their own accessories to their clothes as long as they weren't too flashy. But what unified them all, a single article that was a must for both boys and girls where the navy-blue blazers. Made from the finest material threaded with silver strings, their name badges were carefully pinned next to the Academies' emblem on silver plaques. And as for the emblem, a threading of a shrike calmly sitting on a cherry blossom branch.
Alora, floundering through the cramped hall trying to pull her skirt down as it was a size too short tried to seamlessly pass through the collection of cliques. She kept her eyes on the documents the receptionist had given her the night before, stuck on her first obligation for the day: finding room 27. It was after a period of 30 minutes of asking teachers and students that she found it somewhere in the eastern wing of the temple.
Pulling open the sliding shoji doors, Room 27 was bland and simple. Nothing out of the ordinary despite the suns attempt to wash the wooden floorboards into a gentle gold. Brightly lit, as small square mats had already been laid out. Alora went and nestled herself into the corner of the classroom, other students spilling in behind her. The subtle glow of the sun calmed her as she tried to not get lost in her own solitude. It'd be nice to bend over and chat to someone, but alas, no one noticed her. There was nothing different about her, nothing worth noting that would stir up attention. There were already two kinky haired girls sited in the front of the class, and four dark skinned boys lotted all about. If anything, it allowed her to stay focused, clustering her feelings to herself.
The first lesson was easy. A simple class in breathing exercises and refuelling the body with energy for the day. The master, a kind young lady who reminded her of the priestess apprentices back at Nobunaga mansion. She found the class to easy to follow, nothing complicated, just an hour of silence and meditation as the master periodically rung a bell and guided them in their thoughts of peace and emptiness.
Patience was a keynote in the days lesson, the ability to wait that crushed Alora's mental bones.
The chime of the school bell rang, and class was dismissed.
Class locations changed, and next thing she found herself in her second lesson. For the whole morning block of classes before 1pm, classes consisted of lectures on the various apparitions that existed in the world. Each class specialising in a specific aspect to being a hunter. First, biology and anatomy of apparitions. Then, geography, following suit with their social orders, history, and other general knowledge.
As lunch time came around, she went to the cafeteria. Standing at the doorway to the open hall of lunch tables, and the line at the deli that seemed to curl its way around the wall, Alora was taken aback by the burst of youthful energy swelling in the air. She wondered if she should really sit down to eat, eyeing the clear construct and social interactions of happy and gloomy faces. Her palms began to sweat, and she pivoted on her heels to walk away. Before she could get a step out the doorway her stomach growled, a reminder that she skipped out on the mid-morning breakfast at ten o'clock to hole herself up in the bathrooms and read.
Gaslighting herself into thinking she could gobble down her food in five minutes, she went down the steps and joined the lunch line.
The chatter of students ringing through the hall was the only thing that filled her head. She pinched her arm, wishing she could talk to someone too, but as her eyes glazed over the unfamiliar faces, she decided it'd be best to just stay quiet.
Her stay at the Academy was only temporary. What was the point in forming relationships.
Moving her way up the line, she occasionally glanced back and forth at the table on the other end of the hall, closest to the panel of windows that let the sun pour in and light up the room. It gave a pleasing view of the zen gardens outside, a picturesque scene that seemed to clear the mind of all woes of studying. The tables occupants seemed gleeful as well, laughing on with cheery smiles as they munched on the simple serving of rice, soup, and fried mackerel. Khaya was sitting there. His wide and beautiful smile stretched across his cheeks as his enigmatic eyes lit up. He punched the guy next to him gently, cheering him on as they whispered to each other. Ryoko was seated across him, a small yet soft smile set on her doll like face. She was rather invested in her food, scarfing down her serving of fried fish and the girl's seated next to her.
"Hello? Sweetheart?" The lunch lady called. Alora shot head to her, smiling as she gave her a greeting.
The lady pulled out a tray and began scooping the rice onto the plate.
She gave a knowing smile and asked, "Are you new here?"
"Yes. I just transferred. Today's my first day."
The lady went on to ladle some soup into a bowl, "Have any friends yet?"
"No. It's just going to be just me today," she laughed, scratching the back of her head. "It's just a little awkward for me. I know somebody in the school, but I wouldn't say we're friends yet."
"What are you then?" The lady asked, placing a fried fish next to the rice. She turned around, walking to the refrigerator to get a milk box.
"Partners."
The lady chuckled, "Well if you're partners, why don't you have lunch with her. Him? Doesn't matter, I'm sure they wouldn't mind the company."
Alora quickly glanced to Khaya's table. They were gone.
She sighed, and smiled at the lunch lady, "Maybe tomorrow."
Taking her plate, she turned around and went to an empty table at the far corner of the room. One by one, the cafeteria began to empty itself. She played with her food, staring at the clock on the wall; ten minutes till her next class.
Afternoon classes were centred on combat and weapons training. For her class that day, since it was Tuesday, she mainly spent the afternoon in a hand-to-hand combat class. The master picked her out to be his partner for the lesson, the students ogled on as they wrestled back and forth in what appeared to be a frenzied bull fight. He was having a blast, which she found odd as he pummelled her continuously. A rather burly man with rust red hair and a scraggly beard from Arcadia. Four hours of her being tackled into the dirt and thrown about like a sack of potatoes. At the end of it all, she was ready to retire for the day and just go hit the hay. But then it dawned on her, that there was another set of night classes pending.
Alora, walking off from the training yard found a bench outside House Shinya. She sat down and looked to her legs littered with scrapes. How unusual to end a school day with just scrapes and nothing else. She let out a stuffy breath and took in the view of students casually walking off to the dorm rooms. Things were different here. Nothing like the military academy in Asale. She was already used to the brutality of training there, having been through infection after infection and a series of broken or dislocated bones. Even though things were unusual, and the training was still as intense, she couldn't get the picture out of her head, of her classes combat master sending a reverb of his husky voice, laughing his lungs out from the mistakes they all made. And that sound, minced with the casual chitters of students almost made her crack out a little into laughter.
Khaya, leaning against one of the wooden pillars to house Shinya, laughed. Alora turned, gently laughing along with him.
"What?" she asked.
"Did you have a good first day?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"Enjoy lunch? I didn't see you in the cafeteria in the morning."
"Yeah."
"Is 'Yeah' the only thing you're going to say?"
Alora looked to the ground and gave a fleeting smile, "Am I supposed to say anything else?"
He chuckled, "I'm just checking if things are alright before I pounce on you with new information."
"I'm good. I guess you have something to tell me if you managed to find me right now."
"I do," he said, coming down the veranda and sitting next to her cross legged. "We'll be skipping evening lessons today. I just got a tip from some associates in town of a site we should go check out before tomorrow morning. I've already sent absentee letters to your masters."
"Swift like the wind I see."
"Time is of the essence if we're going to catch Aki."
Alora closed her eyes, shaking of the familiarity of being in the Academy and reverting back to what she knew: callous actions that cared for only hunting. Released from the confides of sanity into a predatory instinct. Parting her eyes, letting the little flame in her chest spark up a little, she huffed in a breath of air and said, "Let's get going then."
Night had fully set in as streams of people lotted the town square. Alora clutched onto her satchel, eyeing the passers-by. The wafting scent of demons was growing thicker by the hour. But amongst the people of Kokonoi, she couldn't spot any apparitions yet.
Alora and Khaya went up to the train station. Climbing onto the raised platform, a clear separation from the twinkling night sky and lamp lit shade of the station, they weaved through the clusters of mundane working citizens and students who slugged through the station from their night schools. The white fluorescent lights flickered on and off, little pings echoing as the city electricians fiddled with wires that ran through the terminal walls. Rushing through the frame of the platform, powerlines and tracks, came the trains, blowing gentle gusts of wind as the citizens filed on in a mindless pursuit.
Khaya and Alora walked a little distance, till they found themselves at a rather sparsely populated section on the platform. Alora looked up to the platform name, 'Platform 3,' to Osamu village.
"Is that where we're going?" she asked.
"Yup. It's an hour ride. By the time we get there, the yokai would have already started their usual parade. The associate of mine said she'd meet us on the train and brief us of the location on our way there."
The train rushed through the tunnel, coming to a gradual stop by the platform. The doors parted, and like everyone else, they filed on.
Far down the end was a lady. She wore a smiling fox mask and a blue jumpsuit, like that of the electricians from earlier on. Khaya promptly sat down beside her, Alora following suit as she gazed in awe at the slight peaks of white skin with a blue tint on her wrists.
"Is this the girl?" the lady asked rather candid.
"Yes. Do you have the information?" Khaya replied.
She stretched into her jumpsuit, but as she was about to pull out whatever they agreed on, Alora glanced over Khaya's shoulder with a fool's smile. For all she knew, she could be pulling out a gun to shoot them. And, learning from living with her father and uncle Yasuo, never trust a masked face.
"I'm sorry," Alora interjected. "I don't know you, or what's going on. It'd be nice if you introduced yourself. I mean, it's a bit creepy to know that you know me, but I don't know you."
The lady sharply turned to Khaya.
He gave a nervous laugh, "She has trust issues. Do you mind?"
Sighing, she bluntly answered, "Hazuki."
"Great," Alora beamed. "I guess we can get started."
Hazuki leaned back into her seat staring straight to the couple across her. "You ever get out much?"
Khaya's face screwed tight, flustered, "Uhm, Hazuki, what about the...."
"Nope," Alora said, leaning back into her seat. "Do you?"
"No," Hazuki answered. She sighed again and leaned over Khaya's lap to Alora.
"Do you want to hang out sometime?"
"I'm not sure. Depends on what you do for a living."
"Let's just say nefarious activity for a certain... what do you call it?" She pressed onto Khaya's shoulder and shook him. His face had melded into a mix of boredom and irritation.
Glaring down onto her masked face, he sharply answered, "Criminal organization."
"Oh yes, that!" she cheerfully snapped.
Alora was drawn in, leaning over Khaya closer to her. She didn't feel dangerous, not to her at least. There was a corrupted, twisted bubble in her that didn't necessarily have a taste for violence. And the mask, the painfully monotonous smile that oddly paired well with its wearers sweet and smoky voice. Charming to Alora.
"Your rather carefree, aren't you."
"It's easy to read an aura and find friends and foes. And to be honest, I like you better than him."
Alora snickered, watching the vein in Khaya's neck pop. "I like you too."
Hazuki chuckled and pulled back into her seat. She instantly pulled out three photocards from her pocket and set them onto Khaya's lap. All three hovered over them and analysed its contents. Pictures of a pregnant woman and toddler who had been bludgeoned, laying out on a pool of tar.
"The latest hit from the organization, special request from Aki. Apparently, she was one of his wives, pregnant with his child. The toddlers from her previous relationship, but Aki took quite the liking to the kid. She escaped the custody of the organization and fled to Osamu. I don't know why, but that's when the Kamakura's took her out."
"Is that all?" Khaya asked.
"For now."
He picked up the picture. "Is the government involved?"
"Not yet. We took the bodies and cleaned up the scene."
"Good. If not too many hands have touched her, I'll be able to find out why she came to Osamu. Hopefully it'll lead us closer to Aki."