Chapter 4 - All I’ve got

  If going back in time was an option, Saki would have chosen it in a heartbeat, for nothing was worse than being screamed at in front of all the staff. Everyone looked at her, some with pity, others with judgment, and just one with concern.

  “What did you do? Why did Master Kuroda leave in such a fury?” screamed an inquiring Goro.

  “You, why were you serving him in the first place? Who permitted you to change your post?” Questions kept flying, but not a word could make it past her throat. No excuse could save her and none of it would be acceptable.

  “I— I just wanted a chance —” She muttered, gathering her strength. When it came to answering Kuroda back, she didn’t seem to have an issue, but that rage was snuffed out by the consequences of her action. Now fear of losing her job was the only thought that suffocated her.

  “A chance? Chance? Chance to do what? Sabotage the night?” With a pointed, threatening finger, he approached her.

  “A chance for myself.”

  “Hmph. A chance for yourself. Are you a fool? I always knew you were good for nothing. Since Souta recommended you, I thought you would be as solid as him. Out of the goodness of my heart, I decided to hire you, but a gutter rat like you doesn’t deserve a chance.”

  The harsh words stung her self-esteem. She had enough of those reality checks for today. Defiance laced her tone as she retorted, “I am not a gutter rat.”

  “Oh, yes. You’re not. Now you are a fired, jobless gutter rat!! Get out of my club.”

  Just like that, in the blink of an eye, she was fired and thrown out of the establishment. Despair and responsibilities crushing her from the inside. She remembered Sobo’s advice of not doing things for which she could not handle the consequences.

  A worried Souta hurried out, shooting a sympathetic look He said, “Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him. I’ll see what I can do. You go home. And Saki, I’m—I’m sorry.”

  Guilt flushed her; it was not his fault. Shaking her head, she put on her bravest face. “It’s okay, Souta, I’m sorry.”

  Reaching her home, she was greeted by a concerned Sobo: “You’re early. Is everything alright?” Saki threw her arms around Sobo, who smelled faintly of cheap, floral soap, and wailed like a child. She poured out all the tears that welled up inside her. All the insults thrown at her, her humiliation, and her mishap with Kuroda. Her Sobo’s gentle embrace and touch made her feel seen, comforted, and welcomed.

  Stuttering Saki said softly, “I’m sorry, Sobo, I made a fool of myself, and I got fired.”

  “It’s okay, my little peach, we will get through this. I never liked your job anyway.”

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  Listening to her sweet grandma comfort her made her feel guilty for only thinking about herself. If only she could’ve been more like Souta, today’s situation could have been avoided. Sitting down with her, Saki looked at her grandma. “I’m sorry for not being able to take care of you. I thought if I could catch the eye of Master Kuroda, I—we could have a better life.”

  Sobo looked at Saki empathetically, gently cupping her face as she wiped her tears. “Oh! My little peach I’m sorry to have been putting such responsibilities on your shoulders. You are young and have your whole life ahead of you. You will figure it out.”

  “All this time I thought I could sing, and maybe inheriting your talent meant we could have a better shot at life. But I just blew it! Our only chance at a better life is gone.” Saki sobbed.

  The sight of always brave Saki crying broke Sobo’s frail heart. Sobo sat contemplating her internal battle; a look of determination flashed in her eyes. Getting up, she went to her bed. Lifting her mattress, she pulled out a rusty box, from which she took out a shiny black ring. The ring was a shade of dark blue that almost seemed black; it seemed to swallow the light, its surface smooth but unnaturally cold to the touch—like holding a sliver of midnight itself. Sitting beside Saki, she presented the ring.

  “Sobo, what is this? Where did you—”

  “Saki, listen to me. This is important.” Sobo’s voice trembled, but her eyes were steady.

  “There are things about me you don’t know—things I’ve kept hidden. This ring… is part of that truth. You haven’t lost your chances. Not all of them. I won’t be here forever, and I should never have been the reason holding you back.”

  Sobo took a deep breath. “Take it and go to Kōgetsu-no-Tō—the Tower of the Crimson Moon. Find him, and tell him, “The key is behind the moon’.”

  Confusion tangled in Saki’s chest like vines. “ Sobo, I don’t understand. Who is he"?

  A loud crash cut short their conversation. Sobo quickly handed the ring to Saki. Both of them stared at the slithering shapeshifter in front of them. A reptilian man. The Oni’s skin shone metallic blue under the lights; it almost seemed green. The eye gleamed like molten gold, slit-pupil unblinking, locked in total stillness. Saki heard of scavenger demons attacking human households in search of valuables. She never fathomed that one day it would be her house.

  In a motherly instinct, Sobo stood before Saki, her frail hand trying her best to shield her.

  “You have no business here! We have no valuables in this place,” Sobo spoke firmly.

  Staring intently, the Oni spoke, “ Yoshie Yamada… I’m here for you. ” Its voice slithered into her ears like a hiss of silk over steel laced with venom. The tension felt like it was coiling around their mind, slowly tightening and waiting. It hissed, “First snow of Makai-shi.”

  Sobo’s face contorted, her expressions changing from realization laced with betrayal. Turning towards Saki, Sobo yelled, “Run! Saki!”

  At that moment, the world narrowed to a single point, and in the pit of that eye, she could see it: the calm before the lunge, the promise of precision, the silence before the storm. Saki was pushed by Sobo as the Oni moved forward at lightning speed, gripping Sobo’s throat—fangs bared. Saki, dazed and trembling, surged forward on instinct. Fear and adrenaline blurred into one as she threw herself at the Oni, her hands locking around the cold, scaly flesh of its throat.

  The demon shrieked—an ear-splitting sound that rattled her bones—then seized her by the hair, yanking her off her feet and slamming her to the floor. Pain shot through her spine as the air was knocked from her lungs.

  Before she could move, it lifted her by the throat, its claws digging in. Eyes burning gold, it hissed, voice sharp as broken glass, “You first, then.”

  In that instant, Sobo lunged forward with the lamp, swinging it with all her might. The lampshade shattered first, glass splattering all over the floor. The Oni staggered back by the impact made by the lamplight, involuntarily dropping Saki. Coughing, she tries to get up. Sobo scurries forward, holding Saki’s hand as she tries to drag her to the door.

  On cue, the door opens, and an unexpected Souta stares in shock and horror at the sight in front of him. Sobo shouts in desperation, “ Souta! Take Saki.” Pushing Saki towards him.

  The air grew heavy, suffocating, as if the very world was holding its breath. The noise around them faded into an eerie silence, and time seemed to slow down. It came too fast. His hand plunged into Sobo’s chest, blood dripping down her mouth side. Sobo’s eyes were filled with pain and sadness. Pushing Saki’s hand away. She yelled, her voice wavering down. “Go! Saki! My peach—”

  What came next was a blur. Souta dragged a wailing—screaming—Saki out of the house. He dragged her with all his strength. They sprinted through the alley, hearts pounding in rhythm with every footfall. Tears kept blurring her vision. All she could think was. Sobo. Her scream. That Oni.

  “Saki, through here! Come on!”

  She followed without thinking—just motion, breath, and the echo of his shadow. Soon they reached Souta’s underground house. It was cramped and dusty, but it felt like a refuge compared to the house stained with Sobo’s blood.

  “Will you tell me what’s happening?” asked a worried Souta.

  At that moment, the only answer she could give was the broken cries for her Sobo. Souta, his expression soft with worry, knelt beside her and pulled her into a quiet embrace. For the second time that day, Saki let the weight of her pain pour out in tears.