Chapter Text
“He’s dangerous.” I already knew that from the start, but his strange demeanor, his personality and his appearance would continuously suck me into his world. I was obsess with his actions, perhaps it was because he reminded me of who I was used to be, a child who could says whatever he wants without consequences, a child who does not have to worry about how every single action could affect those around him, and a child who is not dependent on medicine to keep him sane. Ashiya Hanae is the personification of who I was and who I wanted to be, and he is the most dangerous human being to ever come to existence.
“Abeno-san! Abeno-san!” The sound of his voice irritates the very core of my heart. Every word he speaks just screams to me, to follow him and do whatever he wants me to do and it was an unpleasant feeling. I felt like he was somehow controlling a portion of my being to abide whatever he says and it is scares me. “What do you want five-year old?”
“Will you please stop calling me a five-year old Abeno-san! And you weren’t listening to me at all! As I said, my mother wants to meet you.”
“HUH? Why should I go to your house?” I yelled at him.
“My mother said that she really wants to meet one of my friends and she wanted to thank you for helping after I was finally able to attend my class. You didn’t have to go if you don’t want to. “From his voice, I could sense that he was really excited for me to visit his house and introduce me to his mother, but I didn’t really have time to visit his place. Exorcising yokais were already tiring enough, and then I also have to finish the homeworks given during class, but since there wasn’t really any client for today so maybe I should go after all I am interested on what kind of family Ashiya has.
“Ahh you’re so annoying, fine I’ll go.” His face light up in an instant after I told him that I was going.
I wanted to open a door from the Mononokean to his house but he said that his mother would find it weird that she didn't notice us walking to the flower shop. Why do I have to walk home with him, but then it’s been a while since I walked home from school as I would often just open the Mononokean from any door from the class.
The walk from the school to his house was both tiring and annoying. Ashiya would not stop talking about his mother and I didn’t really cared about his family, but hearing him talk and talk was both amusing and entertaining.
When we finally reached his house, the very first thing that I noticed was the amount of flowers that decorated the shop. It was a really refreshing sight and the smell was relaxing and soothing. It somehow made all of my worries disappear.
“Seimei..."
" Abeno- dono, someone is here to see you." followed by the scent of freshly bloomed sakura trees, the silhouette of a man appeared behind the Japanese paper door. The shadow of the man was far too familiar, to Seimei that he had no doubt in his mind that he knew exactly who it was behind the closed doors.
"I cannot help but get worried, Seimei. News about your failing health had traveled even to my domain. Is the ever powerful Abe No Seimei finally at the doors of his death?"
Abeno laughed at the younger man's remark. It was exactly what he predicted he would say. Though he cannot deny that there is truth in his words, Seimei could still not stop smiling at the young man's demeanor. Though the man did not intend to, he had shown his kindness and sincerity to his enemy, something that a professional exorcist must never do. The world is truly in danger, if such a man will be the only one to save this world. He laughed once again, as images of the man struggling to travel all of over Edo crossed his mind, but unlike his other laughs, the last one was accompanied by a raspy cough and blood.
Troubled and worried over what was happening at the other side of the door, the younger man rushed to open the door and look at the other exorcist's condition. But what awaited him at the other side of the door was something even he would never be able to predict.
"Horrible isn't it? Ashiya.."