Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Kazuyuki - Kazuki's Origin ❯ "C" is for Chise ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2

“C is for Chise”

 

When Kazuyuki looked back at this period of time years later some parts stood out better then others; mostly unpleasant ones. But back in the forest where our story continues, Kazuyuki sat frozen in his spot staring at the female Shikigami who continued to smile at him.

“So…” She started after the uncomfortable silence, “What's your name?”

“Uhh…” and then before he could help himself he blurted out, “There must be some kind of mistake…”

Her smile changed into a frown.

“`Mistake'? No I don't think so. Shikigami rarely ever make mistakes in this matter.”

“But he's right though,” said Kana who had been checking over the unconscious Sanosuke. “People always get a Shikigami of the same sex.”

The Shikigami looked at her with dislike.

“Then I must be the exception. My last mater was male too.” She then glared at Kazuyuki. “But if you'd rather not have me, I'll just leave.”

Kazuyuki, slowly getting over his shock, started stuttering. “I…that's not…I didn't mean…that is…”

A smile returned to her face slightly. “Alright then. Why don't you tell me your name?”

“It's Kazuyuki. And you?”

“Chise. Nice to meet you.”

Kana spoke up once again. “Hold on a second. Kazuyuki, are you sure you're ok with this?”

“Well she did come to me…I don't really mind being paired with Chise…”

“Yes, but ---“

“---`But the village will never accept you. People will still think you're strange.' Is that it? Those thoughts are along the same line as that boy over there.” Chise pointed at the Sanosuke who was slowly waking up.

Kana flushed with anger but said nothing. It was very bad to anger a Shikigami. She merely helped lift Sanosuke, who was finally coming to, and left the forest area.

Kazuyuki turned towards Chise angry. “Why'd you have to do that?! She looked really hurt!”

“That may be but those were her thoughts.” She studied him for a second. “Oh, ho, now I get it! You were attracted to that girl weren't you?”

Kazuyuki blushed. “T-that's not the point!”

“Well I'm sorry but now that we're partners I have some say in who you date.”

Kazuyuki rolled his eyes. “Well there goes any chance of ever having a love life…”

She grinned at him and took his hand. “Oh don't say that…” She then proceeded to kiss the top of his hand. “Oh, and don't forget to call me next time.” She then disappeared.

Kazuyuki stood there for a minute or two, amazed at how little time the whole event actually took. He took his time getting home; he wasn't in any real hurry to share the news. Even though he hated to admit it, Kana was right; this whole think wasn't going to go over well… He took it as a good sign that it was lunchtime. This meant that most of villagers were inside their houses. This allowed him to inform his family before it became public knowledge.

He had barely gotten to the door, before it was flung open by his sister followed closely by his two brothers.

“Kane said that he sensed a Shikigami aura around you! You haven't been attacked have you?!” Cried his sister, Mika.

“Not exactly, but can we discuss it inside please?” Kazuyuki said, glancing nervously behind him.

They let him through and had him sit at the table; Kane and Mine were already seated there. His eldest brother, Hiroshi was the first one to speak.

“So? What's so important that you didn't want anyone else to hear?”

Kazuyuki sighed and decided to get it over quickly. “Chise…” he called, and she appeared behind him. There was silence in the room and no one moved save for Kane and Mine who shared understanding looks. Kazuyuki's father, whose opinion he was most afraid to hear, spoke up breaking the stunned silence.

“Well this at least explains why you wanted us to be the first to know about this. In this, your decision was a good one.” He then turned his attention to Chise. “Greetings Chise. I don't know how you got partnered with my son but, as the head of this household, I welcome you to this family.” He said with an incline of his head, which Chise returned.

“Father, what should we do about this?” Haru, Kazuyuki's older brother, said. “I see no problem with Kazu having Chise as a partner but the rest of the village won't be so understanding.”

“Yes, but now we have time to make a decision about this before they find out.”

“There could be a problem in that plan…” Chise spoke up. “Two of the villagers have already seen me. From what Kazuyuki has told me, their names are Sanosuke and Kana.”

“I think Kana will be alright,” said Mika. “I know she hangs around with Sano, but she's not a bad person. Sano on the other hand -”

“ - Has made it pretty clear that he hates me…” Kazuyuki finished for her.

“Yes…” She said, “but there is still a possibility that he won't tell…”

Kazuyuki's mother looked thoughtful. “Well, if Chise has already been seen then we'll just have to wait and see what will happen. And in the meantime we can come up with a plan for if the worse should happen.”

They all agreed that this was the best plan for the time being. Kazuyuki didn't like it much; it was like waiting for something bad you knew was coming. Chise didn't like it much either, but for a different reason. She was forced to spend most of her time in hiding, only able to come out during meals and at night. As the weeks went by Kazuyuki was surprised that the villagers remained oblivious to the fact that he now had a Shikigami partner. He was more surprised that Kana and Sanosuke held their silence. He had a feeling that Kana might have pushed Sanosuke to it.

Either way he was grateful, though the downside was that he had to constantly calm down an irate Chise. He had to continuously remind himself that she was a Shikigami and not a human girl. A human girl couldn't pick you up and throw you fifty feet in the opposite direction when she was upset. -He made a mental note: >never anger a Shikigami. It will result in a very, very long hospital visit<.

The calm before the storm broke one cold morning. Kazuyuki had gotten up early to finish collecting the rest of the crops before the winter storms came when Chise's voice came through his preoccupied thoughts.

`Something's wrong…'

`What is?' They usually talked like this during the day. It helped Chise from getting lonely (or bored, in Kazuyuki's opinion).

`I don't know, but whatever it is, it's not good.'

Kazuyuki put the last basket of vegetables into the shed. `Well if it's bothering you then it must be bad; but lets get back inside, I'm almost frozen. Mother might be up by now; I could really use a cup of her tea.'

`All right…but--' She was cut off by a great monstrous roar.

Kazuyuki looked up just in time to see something large and black move through the sky. “What is that thing?!” He cried. When he received no reply he looked over to where Chise had appeared.

All the color had drained out of her face and her eyes were wide in fear. Only one word escaped from her mouth as she continued to stare at the spot where the monster had flown past.

“How…?”