Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Muma Oni - The Succubus Demon ❯ The Jibushi Phantom ( Chapter 14 )
[ 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: 12.30.2009 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.1K | Visits: 162 | Status: Completed
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Comedy / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 12.30.2009 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.1K | Visits: 162 | Status: Completed
“I didn’t know you could drive, Kannin,” said Ina.
It was Spring Break for Ina, Sato, and Muma. Grandpa had gotten a call just two days before asking for him and Sato to head to the Jibushi shrine in Hikone. Grandpa insisted to Sato to invite Ina. Muma tagged along on her own, but Pinaka and Jira stayed home to tend to the shrine.
“Grandpa forced me into getting my license,” Sato said. “His eye sight isn’t so great anymore, and a lot of times we have to take long trips like this.”
The car they rented was small, but big enough to comfortably seat the four of them. Ina was in the front passenger seat next to Sato. Grandpa sat in the backseat with Muma who was snoring loudly.
“So, what did this Jibushi guy want?” Ina asked.
“Their shrine hands have been having a difficult time calming the spirits,” Grandpa said. “Totsua Jibushi is an old acquaintance. We use to work in Yokohama together. But he quite liked the country life, so he moved out to Hikone.”
“The Jibushi shrine is pretty magnificent,” Sato said. “Grandpa took me there once when I was little. The shrine is on a hill that overlooks Lake Biwa. Their house is right on the water with a fifty-foot pier out into the water. I loved fishing from it.”
“Jibushi also has a grandson and granddaughter,” Grandpa said. “Sato became good friends with them in the short time we were there.”
Ina looked back at Muma to make sure she was asleep, then said to Sato, “Well, I’m sure they’ll welcome me as their friend too, since I’m your girlfriend, right?”
“Maybe,” Sato answered. “Like I said, I haven’t been there since I was little. I’ll be surprised if they even remember me.”
***
The drive was long, but finally they were heading down the road in the outskirts of Hikone toward the Jibushi house. The road took them around the large hill that the shrine sat on. Finally they arrived at the house.
Sato popped the trunk of the car as he got out and went to the back. The group pulled out their bags they had packed and headed up to the house. It was dark with the crescent moonlight as their only lighting. On the porch stood a portly, elderly, balding man with a white beard. He wore a long robe that dragged the ground.
“Welcome, Kannin family,” the man said.
Grandpa met the man and they gripped hands together. “Totsua, it has been a long time,” Grandpa said.
“Yes it has, Sato,” said Jibushi. “How have things been?”
“Much better for me than for you, it seems,” Grandpa said.
“Yes, well,” Jibushi said, seeming to want to ignore the conversation Grandpa was pushing to. “Please, everyone, come in. Otta, Kanate, come meet our guests and help them with their luggage.”
They went into the foyer. A boy and girl came from the back area of the house and bowed to their guests. The boy, Otta, was chubby like his grandfather. The girl, Kanate, on the other hand, was slender and beautiful.
“Say hello to my grandchildren,” Jibushi said. “It’s just us three here. Their parents are on their third honeymoon to rekindle their love.”
Grandpa looked over the children. They were the same age as Sato and Ina. Grandpa smiled and said to them, “You two have grown quite a lot since the last time I saw you. You must remember my grandson Sato.”
Sato smiled awkwardly and waved. Otta took Sato’s hand in his and said, “I remember you fairly well, Sato. We had a lot of fun back then.”
“Sure did,” Sato said, taking a quick glance at Kanate. “Oh, um, these are my friends, Ina and Muma.”
“Hello,” said Ina, bowing.
“Yo,” Muma said, not too thrilled about the meeting.
“Kanate, if you don’t mind,” Jibushi said, “could you please make some tea for our guests? Otta, show them to their rooms.”
***
Once they were settled in their rooms, the girls sharing one room, and Sato and Grandpa in their own, they gathered back at the sitting room where the tea was already prepared for them. Ina and Sato quickly found their seats together, and Muma forced herself between Sato and Otta.
Grandpa and Jibushi sat on the opposite side of the table from the children. Grandpa took several swigs of his tea before looking to his friend, the question twinkling in his eyes.
“Yes, I’m sure it’s time I’ve told you,” Jibushi said. “Kanate was the first to notice anything was going on.”
All eyes turned to Kanate. She was shuffling her hands across her lap, looking quite flustered at the thought.
“What happened?” Grandpa asked to the open air.
“Do you remember the legends of the demon that was sealed beneath the hill the shrine sits on?” Jibushi asked. Grandpa nodded. “We fear that it might somehow have been released. There have been many strange happenings of late. Otta claims to hear footsteps in the halls at night, but upon investigation, there’s no one there.”
“I’m not familiar with the legend,” Sato said. “What kind of demon is said to have been asleep?”
“A phantom demon,” Otta said. “Kanate saw it walking across the lake. It has its face hidden by a mask, and wears a long, white cloak. When it noticed Kanate was on the pier, it summoned horrid spirits that––”
Kanate shrieked loudly suddenly. She grasped her head tight with her hands and fell over to the floor, her knees to her chest.
“Otta, that’s enough,” Jibushi said. “Kanate has suffered enough from just experiencing it. Never bring it up again.”
“Yes sir,” said Otta sorrowfully as he tended to his sister.
“It must have been bad,” Ina said. She was looking at Kanate with a concerned look.
“So,” Muma said to Jibushi, “what you want is for us to calm this phantom, right? Sounds like no problem.”
“Says a demon with no powers,” Sato said, propping his head on his hand.
“Demon?” said Jibushi.
A cold chill seemed to pass through the house. The Jibushi family all turned to Muma. Otta and Kanate moved as far from her as they could get.
“Kannin,” Ina said angrily, nudging Sato in the ribs.
“Yes,” said Grandpa calmly as he sipped his tea. “Muma there is the very same Muma Oni that attacked my ancestor a few centuries ago. Because of Miss Hirashi and Sato traveling into her burial ground, she had awakened and now stays with us. Do not be afraid. She’s harmless.”
“I trust your judgment, friend,” Jibushi said as he relaxed. “It seems apparent why you must have brought her, then. Since she’s a demon, she could track down our demon, right? Sato, you’re a genius.”
“I don’t think so,” said Muma as she stood. “I didn’t come here to be a demon hunter’s tool. You can count me out! I’m going to bed.”
No one tried to stop her as she stomped from the room. Her footsteps were heard up the stairs and finally they were gone.
Sato looked at Jibushi. “Well, I haven’t dealt with many demons, but you can count on me to do whatever it takes to stop this phantom.”
Jibushi smiled. “It pleases me to hear you say that, young Sato. So, you’ll stay until it’s complete then?”
“Only for an old friend,” Grandpa said, placing a hand on Jibushi’s shoulder.
Jibushi sighed in relief. “Thank you.”
***
Sato stood at the edge of the pier. The water was as black as the sky above, reflecting the stars and moonlight. The glassy surface of the lake rippled as a gust picked up. Sato clenched his fist. He was thinking about the phantom, hoping to see it walking across the water like Kanate did.
“Sato.”
Sato looked back and saw Ina approaching him. She stood next to him and held his hand gently, looking out over the water. She laughed suddenly. “You know, it’s kinda stupid that we still call each other by surnames in front of others,” she said, “while when we’re alone, we’re friendlier, and closer.”
“It’s because of Muma,” Sato said. “She likes me so much. I don’t know why either. All I know is I don’t want to hurt her.”
“You can’t please every woman you know. Sometimes others get jealous. I know I will if you keep thinking about her like that.”
“Well,” said Sato, “if she regains her powers, it’d do me good to be on her good side.”
Ina laughed again, hugging Sato. “I suppose you’re right. But I hate this. We shouldn’t have to hide our feelings for each other. I’ve wanted for so long to let everyone know how I feel about you.”
Sato took Ina by the shoulders and stared into her eyes. “I know, Ina,” he said, “but while Muma’s staying with me, I’d like you to respect her and her feelings, okay?”
Ina frowned. “I suppose I can as long as we still get to have our alone times together.”
“We’re doing that now, aren’t we?”
Sato leaned toward Ina. Her eyes closed and lips puckered as she waited for Sato’s lips to touch hers. Sato stopped suddenly. Something on the water caught his eye. He looked up to see what it was. It took Ina a moment to realize she wasn’t going to get her kiss. She opened her eyes and looked at Sato, and then followed his gaze onto the water. She gasped.
The masked phantom skated across the lake. It glowed in the darkness, illuminating the water. Its long cloak touched the water briefly, creating a swivel in the surface as it passed along it.
“That’s it,” Ina said, grasping Sato’s hand tight.
“Quick,” Sato said, pushing Ina behind him, “go get Grandpa. We can put a stop to this now.”
Ina nodded and raced toward the house.
Sato looked back on the water. The phantom had stopped and was now looking straight at him. A chill drove up Sato’s spine and his face went white. It took him a moment to become aware of the spirits rising from the water. The phantom was holding a hand straight at Sato. Sato felt his lungs constrict. He dropped to one knee, gasping for air. Before he knew it he slipped from the pier and plunged into the icy water. He turned, reaching for the surface, but couldn’t summon any strength to start swimming.
***
Sato heard voices around him. He felt lips press against his and a sudden burst of air filled his lungs. He sat up fast, choking, coughing up water. He looked around and found Otta, Ina, Grandpa, and Jibushi standing around him.
“What happened?” he asked hysterically.
“You collapsed and fell into the water,” said Otta. “Ina administered the CPR.”
“Muma really saved your life though,” Ina said, looking out to the pier. “She dove in after you.”
“What’s she doing on the pier?” Sato asked.
***
Muma looked out onto the water. She was dripping wet from saving Sato. The phantom she saw as she rushed onto the pier to save Sato was gone, and all the spirits had disappeared. She clenched her fists tight.
“You won’t get away with this,” she said. “Before, none of this was my business. Now that you’ve tried killing Sato, it’s my business. I’ll take you down myself, Kaiban … count on it.”
It was Spring Break for Ina, Sato, and Muma. Grandpa had gotten a call just two days before asking for him and Sato to head to the Jibushi shrine in Hikone. Grandpa insisted to Sato to invite Ina. Muma tagged along on her own, but Pinaka and Jira stayed home to tend to the shrine.
“Grandpa forced me into getting my license,” Sato said. “His eye sight isn’t so great anymore, and a lot of times we have to take long trips like this.”
The car they rented was small, but big enough to comfortably seat the four of them. Ina was in the front passenger seat next to Sato. Grandpa sat in the backseat with Muma who was snoring loudly.
“So, what did this Jibushi guy want?” Ina asked.
“Their shrine hands have been having a difficult time calming the spirits,” Grandpa said. “Totsua Jibushi is an old acquaintance. We use to work in Yokohama together. But he quite liked the country life, so he moved out to Hikone.”
“The Jibushi shrine is pretty magnificent,” Sato said. “Grandpa took me there once when I was little. The shrine is on a hill that overlooks Lake Biwa. Their house is right on the water with a fifty-foot pier out into the water. I loved fishing from it.”
“Jibushi also has a grandson and granddaughter,” Grandpa said. “Sato became good friends with them in the short time we were there.”
Ina looked back at Muma to make sure she was asleep, then said to Sato, “Well, I’m sure they’ll welcome me as their friend too, since I’m your girlfriend, right?”
“Maybe,” Sato answered. “Like I said, I haven’t been there since I was little. I’ll be surprised if they even remember me.”
***
The drive was long, but finally they were heading down the road in the outskirts of Hikone toward the Jibushi house. The road took them around the large hill that the shrine sat on. Finally they arrived at the house.
Sato popped the trunk of the car as he got out and went to the back. The group pulled out their bags they had packed and headed up to the house. It was dark with the crescent moonlight as their only lighting. On the porch stood a portly, elderly, balding man with a white beard. He wore a long robe that dragged the ground.
“Welcome, Kannin family,” the man said.
Grandpa met the man and they gripped hands together. “Totsua, it has been a long time,” Grandpa said.
“Yes it has, Sato,” said Jibushi. “How have things been?”
“Much better for me than for you, it seems,” Grandpa said.
“Yes, well,” Jibushi said, seeming to want to ignore the conversation Grandpa was pushing to. “Please, everyone, come in. Otta, Kanate, come meet our guests and help them with their luggage.”
They went into the foyer. A boy and girl came from the back area of the house and bowed to their guests. The boy, Otta, was chubby like his grandfather. The girl, Kanate, on the other hand, was slender and beautiful.
“Say hello to my grandchildren,” Jibushi said. “It’s just us three here. Their parents are on their third honeymoon to rekindle their love.”
Grandpa looked over the children. They were the same age as Sato and Ina. Grandpa smiled and said to them, “You two have grown quite a lot since the last time I saw you. You must remember my grandson Sato.”
Sato smiled awkwardly and waved. Otta took Sato’s hand in his and said, “I remember you fairly well, Sato. We had a lot of fun back then.”
“Sure did,” Sato said, taking a quick glance at Kanate. “Oh, um, these are my friends, Ina and Muma.”
“Hello,” said Ina, bowing.
“Yo,” Muma said, not too thrilled about the meeting.
“Kanate, if you don’t mind,” Jibushi said, “could you please make some tea for our guests? Otta, show them to their rooms.”
***
Once they were settled in their rooms, the girls sharing one room, and Sato and Grandpa in their own, they gathered back at the sitting room where the tea was already prepared for them. Ina and Sato quickly found their seats together, and Muma forced herself between Sato and Otta.
Grandpa and Jibushi sat on the opposite side of the table from the children. Grandpa took several swigs of his tea before looking to his friend, the question twinkling in his eyes.
“Yes, I’m sure it’s time I’ve told you,” Jibushi said. “Kanate was the first to notice anything was going on.”
All eyes turned to Kanate. She was shuffling her hands across her lap, looking quite flustered at the thought.
“What happened?” Grandpa asked to the open air.
“Do you remember the legends of the demon that was sealed beneath the hill the shrine sits on?” Jibushi asked. Grandpa nodded. “We fear that it might somehow have been released. There have been many strange happenings of late. Otta claims to hear footsteps in the halls at night, but upon investigation, there’s no one there.”
“I’m not familiar with the legend,” Sato said. “What kind of demon is said to have been asleep?”
“A phantom demon,” Otta said. “Kanate saw it walking across the lake. It has its face hidden by a mask, and wears a long, white cloak. When it noticed Kanate was on the pier, it summoned horrid spirits that––”
Kanate shrieked loudly suddenly. She grasped her head tight with her hands and fell over to the floor, her knees to her chest.
“Otta, that’s enough,” Jibushi said. “Kanate has suffered enough from just experiencing it. Never bring it up again.”
“Yes sir,” said Otta sorrowfully as he tended to his sister.
“It must have been bad,” Ina said. She was looking at Kanate with a concerned look.
“So,” Muma said to Jibushi, “what you want is for us to calm this phantom, right? Sounds like no problem.”
“Says a demon with no powers,” Sato said, propping his head on his hand.
“Demon?” said Jibushi.
A cold chill seemed to pass through the house. The Jibushi family all turned to Muma. Otta and Kanate moved as far from her as they could get.
“Kannin,” Ina said angrily, nudging Sato in the ribs.
“Yes,” said Grandpa calmly as he sipped his tea. “Muma there is the very same Muma Oni that attacked my ancestor a few centuries ago. Because of Miss Hirashi and Sato traveling into her burial ground, she had awakened and now stays with us. Do not be afraid. She’s harmless.”
“I trust your judgment, friend,” Jibushi said as he relaxed. “It seems apparent why you must have brought her, then. Since she’s a demon, she could track down our demon, right? Sato, you’re a genius.”
“I don’t think so,” said Muma as she stood. “I didn’t come here to be a demon hunter’s tool. You can count me out! I’m going to bed.”
No one tried to stop her as she stomped from the room. Her footsteps were heard up the stairs and finally they were gone.
Sato looked at Jibushi. “Well, I haven’t dealt with many demons, but you can count on me to do whatever it takes to stop this phantom.”
Jibushi smiled. “It pleases me to hear you say that, young Sato. So, you’ll stay until it’s complete then?”
“Only for an old friend,” Grandpa said, placing a hand on Jibushi’s shoulder.
Jibushi sighed in relief. “Thank you.”
***
Sato stood at the edge of the pier. The water was as black as the sky above, reflecting the stars and moonlight. The glassy surface of the lake rippled as a gust picked up. Sato clenched his fist. He was thinking about the phantom, hoping to see it walking across the water like Kanate did.
“Sato.”
Sato looked back and saw Ina approaching him. She stood next to him and held his hand gently, looking out over the water. She laughed suddenly. “You know, it’s kinda stupid that we still call each other by surnames in front of others,” she said, “while when we’re alone, we’re friendlier, and closer.”
“It’s because of Muma,” Sato said. “She likes me so much. I don’t know why either. All I know is I don’t want to hurt her.”
“You can’t please every woman you know. Sometimes others get jealous. I know I will if you keep thinking about her like that.”
“Well,” said Sato, “if she regains her powers, it’d do me good to be on her good side.”
Ina laughed again, hugging Sato. “I suppose you’re right. But I hate this. We shouldn’t have to hide our feelings for each other. I’ve wanted for so long to let everyone know how I feel about you.”
Sato took Ina by the shoulders and stared into her eyes. “I know, Ina,” he said, “but while Muma’s staying with me, I’d like you to respect her and her feelings, okay?”
Ina frowned. “I suppose I can as long as we still get to have our alone times together.”
“We’re doing that now, aren’t we?”
Sato leaned toward Ina. Her eyes closed and lips puckered as she waited for Sato’s lips to touch hers. Sato stopped suddenly. Something on the water caught his eye. He looked up to see what it was. It took Ina a moment to realize she wasn’t going to get her kiss. She opened her eyes and looked at Sato, and then followed his gaze onto the water. She gasped.
The masked phantom skated across the lake. It glowed in the darkness, illuminating the water. Its long cloak touched the water briefly, creating a swivel in the surface as it passed along it.
“That’s it,” Ina said, grasping Sato’s hand tight.
“Quick,” Sato said, pushing Ina behind him, “go get Grandpa. We can put a stop to this now.”
Ina nodded and raced toward the house.
Sato looked back on the water. The phantom had stopped and was now looking straight at him. A chill drove up Sato’s spine and his face went white. It took him a moment to become aware of the spirits rising from the water. The phantom was holding a hand straight at Sato. Sato felt his lungs constrict. He dropped to one knee, gasping for air. Before he knew it he slipped from the pier and plunged into the icy water. He turned, reaching for the surface, but couldn’t summon any strength to start swimming.
***
Sato heard voices around him. He felt lips press against his and a sudden burst of air filled his lungs. He sat up fast, choking, coughing up water. He looked around and found Otta, Ina, Grandpa, and Jibushi standing around him.
“What happened?” he asked hysterically.
“You collapsed and fell into the water,” said Otta. “Ina administered the CPR.”
“Muma really saved your life though,” Ina said, looking out to the pier. “She dove in after you.”
“What’s she doing on the pier?” Sato asked.
***
Muma looked out onto the water. She was dripping wet from saving Sato. The phantom she saw as she rushed onto the pier to save Sato was gone, and all the spirits had disappeared. She clenched her fists tight.
“You won’t get away with this,” she said. “Before, none of this was my business. Now that you’ve tried killing Sato, it’s my business. I’ll take you down myself, Kaiban … count on it.”