Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Muma Oni - The Succubus Demon ❯ Tears of the Past ( Chapter 6 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Levante01 
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Comedy / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.14.2009 | Updated On: 12.05.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.3K | Visits: 191 | Status: Completed
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Comedy / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.14.2009 | Updated On: 12.05.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.3K | Visits: 191 | Status: Completed
Sato sat on the roof of his house. He was bundled nicely in a jacket and thick pants. A winter breeze had moved in. The leaves on the trees were changing colors more now. Winter was almost here, and Sato dreaded the coming day. The thought of it gave him chills, and not just because it was cold out.
“Why does it have to come every year?” he said to himself, watching the cloud roll through the sky. “Why couldn’t it be on February twenty-ninth? At least then I’d only see it every four years.”
He heard someone on the ladder coming to the roof. He looked around and saw Pinaka’s head come over the edge of the roof. “Sato, your friend Ina just called,” she said. “She wanted you to call her back when you could.”
Sato nodded. “All right, thanks Oruda.”
Pinaka smiled. “How many times do I have to tell you? Just call me Pina, ok? No need to be formal.”
“Okay, Pina,” said Sato, nodding again.
“Now excuse me,” Pinaka said, beginning to head down the ladder, “I’m gonna go make up some tea and lunch. I’ll let you when it’s––ah!”
“Pina!” Sato cried as Pinaka’s head quickly disappeared from his view. He heard a loud thump on the ground below. Sato raced to the edge, seeing Pinaka sprawled badly on the ground, her pink panties visible under her skirt.
“Are you all right down there?” Sato asked.
“Fine,” said Pinaka as she sat up. “I’ll go get lunch ready now.” She limped away.
***
“Hey Hirashi,” Sato said on the phone to Ina. “What did you want to talk about?” He leaned against the front door, the cord to the phone reaching no longer than that.
“I was just wondering,” came Ina’s voice, “what do you want to do tomorrow? You know it’s that time again. I was hoping for once we could do something cheerful.”
“There’s nothing to be cheerful about,” Sato said. “It’s just a day where I’m reminded of something horrible.”
“I know, but that was seven years ago. You can’t mourn about it the rest of your life!”
“We’ll discuss it later. Call me tonight before you go to bed.”
Sato put the phone back on its dock. He began up the stairs. Muma appeared from the wall and wrapped herself around Sato as usual. “Hey there, Sati,” she said, rubbing her cheek against his. “I’m about to take a bath. Wanna join me?”
Sato pulled Muma’s arms from around him. “I’m not in the mood, Muma. Tell Pinaka to just bring me my food. I’m going to lay down.”
Muma paused on the stairs and watched Sato turn down the hall and enter his room. “That was weird,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “That’s like the first time he’s never called me ‘demon.’ I wonder if he’s sick.”
***
Sato laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He heard a rap on the door. “Come in,” he said.
Pinaka entered the room with a tray of food. “Hey, kiddo,” she said. “Are you doing all right? Muma said you might be sick.”
“I’m fine,” said Sato. “Just put the food on my desk there.”
Pinaka set the tray down as Sato instructed. She moved to his bed and sat next to him. “Come on, what’s wrong?”
Sato turned on his side away from Pinaka. “It’s nothing. Just leave me alone, please.”
Pinaka sighed and walked to the door. She stopped and looked back at Sato. “Well, if you need to talk, you have two lovely women here who won’t hesitate to listen.”
“Thanks,” Sato mumbled.
Pinaka smiled and turned back, walking into the door jam. She paused to take a look back at Sato, rubbing her red forehead, and then left the room, sliding the door gently shut.
Sato looked to the ceiling again. “Maybe I’ll just sleep until tomorrow’s over,” he said.
***
Sato walked through the town, stopping by at the floral shop. He had known the shopkeeper since he was little. She was an elderly lady, and very kind. Her grandson would help out at the shop from time to time, but today it looked like he wasn’t there.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Gadano,” Sato said, seeing the elderly woman tending to a bouquet of flowers.
“Oh Sato, you’re just in time,” Mrs. Gadano said, showing him the bouquet. “I have the flowers ready for you. It’s another year gone by, huh?”
“Yeah,” said Sato, keeping his gaze low.
Mrs. Gadano handed the flowers to Sato. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a couple hundred yen. “Chin up, deary,” Mrs. Gadano said suddenly as Sato handed her the money. “I doubt they would want you to be like this, especially seven years later.”
“You’re probably right,” Sato said, “but I can’t help it.”
Mrs. Gadano smiled. “You’ll be fine, Sato.”
Sato nodded as he left the shop.
***
“Hey Gramps,” said Muma as she, Grandpa, and Pinaka sat in the sitting room eating crackers and drinking tea, “what’s wrong with Sato today? He seemed like such a zombie when he left this morning.”
“Yes,” Pinaka said, “he doesn’t seem to have been feeling good lately.”
Grandpa lowered his tea cup and gazed around at the girls. “Today,” he said, “is a very hard day for Sato. Today marks the seven year anniversary of a tragic event in Sato’s life.”
“What was it?” Muma asked.
“Being a demon, Muma,” said Grandpa, “you may not understand it, but sympathy is a must for Sato. He blames himself for it, even though there was nothing he could do to change it.”
Muma and Pinaka listened intently to Grandpa has he told them the tale.
***
“Hey Kannin,” said Ina as she and Sato met at Muma’s cave. “How are you feeling?”
Sato shrugged. “Same as ever on this day.”
Ina hugged Sato. “I know, it’s a rough day for you. But I’m always here for you, and that’ll never change.”
“Thanks Hirashi,” Sato said, resting his chin on Ina’s shoulder. “I’m always glad that we’re such good friends.”
“Well, come on,” Ina said, releasing Sato, “let’s get this over with.”
Sato nodded.
***
“It was seven years ago,” Grandpa told Pinaka and Muma. “It was on a cold fall day. The snow had fallen early that year. It seemed like a bad omen just because it did snow. Sato’s parents had planned a trip to Kyoto to visit my dear sister. She hadn’t been well for a long time and they thought it would be nice to see her before she passed away.
“Back then, Sato was a wild boy, and always got into mischief. One of his adventures with his friend Hirashi ended up in disaster as Sato was swept down the river. He was saved by one of the townsfolk, luckily, but also ended up with a terrible cold.
“I volunteered to stay and take care of him,” continued Grandpa, watching the girls munch on their crackers, “even though I would’ve liked to see my sister again before she did die. I didn’t want to spoil the trip; Sato’s little sister Naomi was excited about it. So they went.”
Muma leaned forward. “What happened, Gramps?” she asked because Grandpa had stopped.
“Yes, Grandpa, tell us,” Pinaka said.
“They were in a wreck,” Grandpa answered finally. “A bus they were driving next to toward Yokohama lost its grips on the road and swerved, smashing into the car and sending them into a flip off the road. Sato’s parents died instantly. Naomi was recovered from the wreck and taken to a hospital in Tokyo. She died within a few hours from blood loss. They were unable to give her a transfusion in time.”
“That’s horrible,” said Pinaka, putting her cracker down. “But … why does Sato blame himself?”
“Because he wasn’t there,” Grandpa said. “He takes the burden of their deaths on his shoulders. He claims that he should have been there too, and died with them. Or at least had been there to shield his sister and ensure that she might live.”
Muma put her hands hard on the table and stood up. “I’m going,” she said. “He’s at the cemetery, right? I have to see him.”
“Muma, wait,” Pinaka called after Muma, but Muma was already out the door.
***
The grave was all the way at the back of the cemetery. Sato held the flowers to his chest as he approached the three gravestones labeled by the name Kannin. Ina was at his side, holding his hand, comforting him as she did every year on this day.
Sato released Ina’s hand and knelt in front of the graves, placing the flowers down. The flowers were white and large. Sato remembered his Grandpa referring to them as the “Death Flowers,” that’s why he bought them each year and brought them to the graves.
Ina knelt next to Sato and put an arm around his shoulders. He shot a small smile at her.
Sato held his hand before him in prayer, and Ina did the same. They muttered together the same Japanese verse that Grandpa had drilled into Sato’s mind since their first time at this grave. It wished a happy afterlife for the dearly departed.
Finishing the verse, Sato and Ina clapped their hands together like to say amen. Ina stood, but Sato remained on his knees.
“Come on, Sato,” Ina said. “It’s getting a bit nippy. You don’t want to catch a cold. Let’s go to my house. My mom should have some cocoa ready for us like always.”
Ina paused. Sato was shaking. She knew he was crying. He did every year they come here to visit. She couldn’t possibly know how he felt; she still had both of her parents, and was an only child. But seeing Sato there crying made her want to cry as well. They had been best friends since their first day of school long ago. Even when they’re far apart they could sense when something was wrong with the other.
Ina was about to put a hand on Sato’s shoulder but stopped, looking down the path they had come from.
Sato buried his face in his hands. The overwhelming loss of his family, even after all these years, had its grip on him. He felt something drape over his shoulders. Stifling his tears, he looked up and gazed around at Muma standing over him. She was wearing a thick jacket lined with light brown fur. She also had on a skirt which seemed strange to wear in the cold.
“Why are you here?” Sato asked Muma.
“Gramps told me all about it,” Muma said, looking at the graves. “I understand how you feel, Sati. I’ve never had a family, a mother or father to teach me the ways of the world. For as long as I can remember I’ve been on my own. I can really sympathize with you.”
Sato pulled the gi off his shoulders, noticing it was the one he had put around Muma when they first met. Muma answered his thought instantly. “It’s been in the cave all this time. I thought you might like it back.”
Sato slowly stood, turning completely to face Muma. He tried his hardest to hold back his tears.
“Kannin,” Ina said gently.
“Thank you, Muma,” said Sato, putting a hand on Muma’s shoulder. He pulled her to him and hugged her tightly.
Muma pushed away. “Don’t mention it,” she said. “Now quit being so mushy. It’s not like you Sati.”
Sato dried his eyes on his sleeves and nodded, smiling. He looked past her and saw Grandpa and Pinaka coming toward them.
“Ina’s mother called,” Grandpa said. “She’s invited us all over for dinner. Let’s go.”
***
“Dammit, demon, stay out of the bath while I’m in here!” Sato cried, tossing a nude Muma from the bathroom and slamming the door shut.
Muma sat up, folding her arms over her breasts. “You know, Sati, I think I liked you better when you were being all mushy!” She giggled to herself. “Well, I guess it wouldn’t be the same if he actually let me bathe with him.” She put a fist into the palm of her hand. “Looks like I’ll just have to try harder to get him to come around to me.”
“Why does it have to come every year?” he said to himself, watching the cloud roll through the sky. “Why couldn’t it be on February twenty-ninth? At least then I’d only see it every four years.”
He heard someone on the ladder coming to the roof. He looked around and saw Pinaka’s head come over the edge of the roof. “Sato, your friend Ina just called,” she said. “She wanted you to call her back when you could.”
Sato nodded. “All right, thanks Oruda.”
Pinaka smiled. “How many times do I have to tell you? Just call me Pina, ok? No need to be formal.”
“Okay, Pina,” said Sato, nodding again.
“Now excuse me,” Pinaka said, beginning to head down the ladder, “I’m gonna go make up some tea and lunch. I’ll let you when it’s––ah!”
“Pina!” Sato cried as Pinaka’s head quickly disappeared from his view. He heard a loud thump on the ground below. Sato raced to the edge, seeing Pinaka sprawled badly on the ground, her pink panties visible under her skirt.
“Are you all right down there?” Sato asked.
“Fine,” said Pinaka as she sat up. “I’ll go get lunch ready now.” She limped away.
***
“Hey Hirashi,” Sato said on the phone to Ina. “What did you want to talk about?” He leaned against the front door, the cord to the phone reaching no longer than that.
“I was just wondering,” came Ina’s voice, “what do you want to do tomorrow? You know it’s that time again. I was hoping for once we could do something cheerful.”
“There’s nothing to be cheerful about,” Sato said. “It’s just a day where I’m reminded of something horrible.”
“I know, but that was seven years ago. You can’t mourn about it the rest of your life!”
“We’ll discuss it later. Call me tonight before you go to bed.”
Sato put the phone back on its dock. He began up the stairs. Muma appeared from the wall and wrapped herself around Sato as usual. “Hey there, Sati,” she said, rubbing her cheek against his. “I’m about to take a bath. Wanna join me?”
Sato pulled Muma’s arms from around him. “I’m not in the mood, Muma. Tell Pinaka to just bring me my food. I’m going to lay down.”
Muma paused on the stairs and watched Sato turn down the hall and enter his room. “That was weird,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “That’s like the first time he’s never called me ‘demon.’ I wonder if he’s sick.”
***
Sato laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He heard a rap on the door. “Come in,” he said.
Pinaka entered the room with a tray of food. “Hey, kiddo,” she said. “Are you doing all right? Muma said you might be sick.”
“I’m fine,” said Sato. “Just put the food on my desk there.”
Pinaka set the tray down as Sato instructed. She moved to his bed and sat next to him. “Come on, what’s wrong?”
Sato turned on his side away from Pinaka. “It’s nothing. Just leave me alone, please.”
Pinaka sighed and walked to the door. She stopped and looked back at Sato. “Well, if you need to talk, you have two lovely women here who won’t hesitate to listen.”
“Thanks,” Sato mumbled.
Pinaka smiled and turned back, walking into the door jam. She paused to take a look back at Sato, rubbing her red forehead, and then left the room, sliding the door gently shut.
Sato looked to the ceiling again. “Maybe I’ll just sleep until tomorrow’s over,” he said.
***
Sato walked through the town, stopping by at the floral shop. He had known the shopkeeper since he was little. She was an elderly lady, and very kind. Her grandson would help out at the shop from time to time, but today it looked like he wasn’t there.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Gadano,” Sato said, seeing the elderly woman tending to a bouquet of flowers.
“Oh Sato, you’re just in time,” Mrs. Gadano said, showing him the bouquet. “I have the flowers ready for you. It’s another year gone by, huh?”
“Yeah,” said Sato, keeping his gaze low.
Mrs. Gadano handed the flowers to Sato. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a couple hundred yen. “Chin up, deary,” Mrs. Gadano said suddenly as Sato handed her the money. “I doubt they would want you to be like this, especially seven years later.”
“You’re probably right,” Sato said, “but I can’t help it.”
Mrs. Gadano smiled. “You’ll be fine, Sato.”
Sato nodded as he left the shop.
***
“Hey Gramps,” said Muma as she, Grandpa, and Pinaka sat in the sitting room eating crackers and drinking tea, “what’s wrong with Sato today? He seemed like such a zombie when he left this morning.”
“Yes,” Pinaka said, “he doesn’t seem to have been feeling good lately.”
Grandpa lowered his tea cup and gazed around at the girls. “Today,” he said, “is a very hard day for Sato. Today marks the seven year anniversary of a tragic event in Sato’s life.”
“What was it?” Muma asked.
“Being a demon, Muma,” said Grandpa, “you may not understand it, but sympathy is a must for Sato. He blames himself for it, even though there was nothing he could do to change it.”
Muma and Pinaka listened intently to Grandpa has he told them the tale.
***
“Hey Kannin,” said Ina as she and Sato met at Muma’s cave. “How are you feeling?”
Sato shrugged. “Same as ever on this day.”
Ina hugged Sato. “I know, it’s a rough day for you. But I’m always here for you, and that’ll never change.”
“Thanks Hirashi,” Sato said, resting his chin on Ina’s shoulder. “I’m always glad that we’re such good friends.”
“Well, come on,” Ina said, releasing Sato, “let’s get this over with.”
Sato nodded.
***
“It was seven years ago,” Grandpa told Pinaka and Muma. “It was on a cold fall day. The snow had fallen early that year. It seemed like a bad omen just because it did snow. Sato’s parents had planned a trip to Kyoto to visit my dear sister. She hadn’t been well for a long time and they thought it would be nice to see her before she passed away.
“Back then, Sato was a wild boy, and always got into mischief. One of his adventures with his friend Hirashi ended up in disaster as Sato was swept down the river. He was saved by one of the townsfolk, luckily, but also ended up with a terrible cold.
“I volunteered to stay and take care of him,” continued Grandpa, watching the girls munch on their crackers, “even though I would’ve liked to see my sister again before she did die. I didn’t want to spoil the trip; Sato’s little sister Naomi was excited about it. So they went.”
Muma leaned forward. “What happened, Gramps?” she asked because Grandpa had stopped.
“Yes, Grandpa, tell us,” Pinaka said.
“They were in a wreck,” Grandpa answered finally. “A bus they were driving next to toward Yokohama lost its grips on the road and swerved, smashing into the car and sending them into a flip off the road. Sato’s parents died instantly. Naomi was recovered from the wreck and taken to a hospital in Tokyo. She died within a few hours from blood loss. They were unable to give her a transfusion in time.”
“That’s horrible,” said Pinaka, putting her cracker down. “But … why does Sato blame himself?”
“Because he wasn’t there,” Grandpa said. “He takes the burden of their deaths on his shoulders. He claims that he should have been there too, and died with them. Or at least had been there to shield his sister and ensure that she might live.”
Muma put her hands hard on the table and stood up. “I’m going,” she said. “He’s at the cemetery, right? I have to see him.”
“Muma, wait,” Pinaka called after Muma, but Muma was already out the door.
***
The grave was all the way at the back of the cemetery. Sato held the flowers to his chest as he approached the three gravestones labeled by the name Kannin. Ina was at his side, holding his hand, comforting him as she did every year on this day.
Sato released Ina’s hand and knelt in front of the graves, placing the flowers down. The flowers were white and large. Sato remembered his Grandpa referring to them as the “Death Flowers,” that’s why he bought them each year and brought them to the graves.
Ina knelt next to Sato and put an arm around his shoulders. He shot a small smile at her.
Sato held his hand before him in prayer, and Ina did the same. They muttered together the same Japanese verse that Grandpa had drilled into Sato’s mind since their first time at this grave. It wished a happy afterlife for the dearly departed.
Finishing the verse, Sato and Ina clapped their hands together like to say amen. Ina stood, but Sato remained on his knees.
“Come on, Sato,” Ina said. “It’s getting a bit nippy. You don’t want to catch a cold. Let’s go to my house. My mom should have some cocoa ready for us like always.”
Ina paused. Sato was shaking. She knew he was crying. He did every year they come here to visit. She couldn’t possibly know how he felt; she still had both of her parents, and was an only child. But seeing Sato there crying made her want to cry as well. They had been best friends since their first day of school long ago. Even when they’re far apart they could sense when something was wrong with the other.
Ina was about to put a hand on Sato’s shoulder but stopped, looking down the path they had come from.
Sato buried his face in his hands. The overwhelming loss of his family, even after all these years, had its grip on him. He felt something drape over his shoulders. Stifling his tears, he looked up and gazed around at Muma standing over him. She was wearing a thick jacket lined with light brown fur. She also had on a skirt which seemed strange to wear in the cold.
“Why are you here?” Sato asked Muma.
“Gramps told me all about it,” Muma said, looking at the graves. “I understand how you feel, Sati. I’ve never had a family, a mother or father to teach me the ways of the world. For as long as I can remember I’ve been on my own. I can really sympathize with you.”
Sato pulled the gi off his shoulders, noticing it was the one he had put around Muma when they first met. Muma answered his thought instantly. “It’s been in the cave all this time. I thought you might like it back.”
Sato slowly stood, turning completely to face Muma. He tried his hardest to hold back his tears.
“Kannin,” Ina said gently.
“Thank you, Muma,” said Sato, putting a hand on Muma’s shoulder. He pulled her to him and hugged her tightly.
Muma pushed away. “Don’t mention it,” she said. “Now quit being so mushy. It’s not like you Sati.”
Sato dried his eyes on his sleeves and nodded, smiling. He looked past her and saw Grandpa and Pinaka coming toward them.
“Ina’s mother called,” Grandpa said. “She’s invited us all over for dinner. Let’s go.”
***
“Dammit, demon, stay out of the bath while I’m in here!” Sato cried, tossing a nude Muma from the bathroom and slamming the door shut.
Muma sat up, folding her arms over her breasts. “You know, Sati, I think I liked you better when you were being all mushy!” She giggled to herself. “Well, I guess it wouldn’t be the same if he actually let me bathe with him.” She put a fist into the palm of her hand. “Looks like I’ll just have to try harder to get him to come around to me.”