Brunch With Mother (revised)

Shelby Scott read this story recently on her SCARE YOU TO SLEEP PODCAST! 
Give it a listen!

As the kitchen clock struck ten, the smell of fresh scones and bacon drifted through the small, San

Francisco apartment. Heat from the oven warmed the space and light streamed in through the open window. It was a perfect day. Unfortunately, today was brunch day.

                     

David stood before the antique mirror in the bathroom and shaved, tapping the razor into the sink and trying to concentrate on both the conversation and not slitting his throat with the razor in his hands. His stomach growled as he hurried through the process, eager to get the shaving done before Debra destroyed the kitchen and before his Mother arrived.

He called out, “She won’t stay long. She never does – you know that.” He rinsed the razor, tapped the blade against the cold, white sink, then dragged it over his right cheek. He heard a slam from the kitchen and sighed, “Come on, Debra. It’s not that bad. She will be in and out of here in an hour or so. She’s just visiting. Like always.”

A crash of drawers from the kitchen filled the air followed by the slamming of a door somewhere.

David rinsed the remaining shaving cream off, dried off with a blue towel from the rod, and applied lotion to his face. He walked from the bathroom and folded his arms over his bare chest.

“Debra…please. We can talk through this later, but she’s going to be here in a minute and I want to greet her clothed.” He smiled.

Debra returned the smile, but it was cool and somewhat transparent.

David moved toward her. “I’ll make sure she gives more notice next time, ok? But, just for now, can we be civil? Please?” David ran a hand over his head. He knew Debra didn't like his mother - not many people did - but, these visits had to happen. "Just stay off in the bedroom and you won't even have to deal with her at all. She’s not expecting to hang out with you, just me." He dipped his head pleading.

She nodded and moved off down the hall, saying nothing.

David bowed his head, breathed out a long sigh, then moved to the bedroom to get dressed.

_______

The woman at the table ate at the scone in her hand with delicate bites and spoke with a slight Asian accent highlighted with a venomous tone. Her hair bun was as tightly wound as she was all the time. She blurted out comments on everyone she knew during her visits and David sat and listened with disinterest. He didn’t even know half the people she spoke ill off during her rants. She sat upright and prim, dispensing ill will. He’d listened to his mother bad mouth everyone from his father to his sister to his "horrible, gay neighbors" and he’d had just about all he could take for one morning.

She lightly touched her jet black hair and David wondered if she dyed it. “And, you know how SHE is – all fluff and pink and horrid makeup! Mother would NOT approve.” She rubbed her arms and glanced around the apartment through her thick glasses. “You always keep it so cold here.”

David brushed off the comment about the cold as best he could and walked to the wall heater to boost it even more. . “Well, she is your sister, Mom.” David grinned, returned to the table, and finished his bacon. The coffee swirled in his cup as he checked the time out of the corner of his eye.

“My sister is a ridiculous BEAST of a woman.” She swatted the words away with her hand as if swatting at bugs. “Enough about her. She makes me so upset.” She dropped the scone onto the plate and looked at her son with dull eyes. “So, this girl you said you were seeing? When do I finally get to MEET her?” She sipped her coffee.

David looked at her and wanted to laugh as the thought of him somehow making Debra appear through magic appeared in his head. He shook it off. “She’s out.”

“Out?” His mother rolled her eyes and leaned back in the chair with a smug look on her face. “Last time she had some sort of 'appointment' and couldn’t be here either.” She tutted. "I'm beginning to think she is avoiding me."

“Well, you don’t give us much notice, do you?” David tried to remain polite.

“Your own mother needs to give notice? Schedule an appointment?” She frowned. “Well, nice to know where I stand.”

“It’s common practice – letting someone know you are thinking about coming by.” David couldn’t hide his impatience and his mother gave him that face that registered both hurt and anger. He’d grown to hate that face as a boy. It was even worse now.

Just then, he caught sight of Debra slipping up behind his mother. She stood with the water pitcher in hand and looked as if she was bound and determined to empty its contents over his mother’s head.

David stood and deftly moved around behind his mother, snatching the pitcher up and spinning around to stand between his mother and Debra.

His mother gasped and ducked back a bit, catching her breath and blurting out, “What on Earth is wrong with you?!” She frowned and muttered something in Japanese under her breath.  David caught the word "baka" and remembered her calling him that as a child. He grimaced.

“Water?” David smiled wide, holding the pitcher high. He heard Debra slip around the corner behind him. He moved back to the table.

Confusion showed on his mother’s face as she declined his offer. David slipped the pitcher back onto the countertop and shot Debra a look as she peeked around the corner behind his mother - smiling. Her eyes contained the mischievous quality he’d seen far too many times before. She stealthily moved back into the bedroom.

He thought this would be a good time to end the visit.

“Well, like I said, mother, I do need to run. I’m sorry.” He checked his watch and winced. “I have to run down to the shops before picking up Marty.”

“I thought you said Marty was away this weekend. Your sister was traveling and couldn't make it today. ”

David remembered the lie he told on his sister’s behalf so she didn’t have to attend this little brunch extravaganza. “From the train.” I need to go to the shops, get my-“ He stopped and showed his annoyance by crossing his arms. “What? Do you think this is all some sort of…of con? Some massive running away from you?” He laughed. “Come on, you can walk down to the shops with me is you don’t believe me.” He shook his head with a chuckle and started clearing plates.

“Well, if you’re going to get her, maybe I’ll wait here and we can all have dinner together before I head home?”

David could feel his heart sink at the thought of his Mother lingering around the apartment with Debra hiding in the bedroom. Idiot.

“It’ll be hours before I get back with her.” He turned to see Debra moving up slowly and calmly behind his mother with a sour expression.

“You know, I’ll clean all this up later.” David smiled to his Mother.

Debra bit her bottom lip and brought her hand up high. Something was cradled in her hands. A dictionary?

David was across the room in a heartbeat again, shoving past his mother and to grab the heavy book away from its arc towards his mother’s head.

With a squawk, his mother fell back into the chair and knocked into her coffee, spilling it across the table. “DAVID! Dō shita no?!”

David spun on his heel – dictionary in hand. “Present!” He laughed. “You reminded me.” He held the book up and started paging through it. "Marty got me this as a present when I was complaining about the meaning of words one day. I thought it was funny because you said...."

His Mother cut in. “You’re on drugs, aren’t you? I saw a program on this just the other night. There’s a singer from the UK that is on the same – heroin?" She nodded in agreement with herself. " I knew you were losing weight!” She stood. “You are on that or something else. You’re entirely off your ledge! Knocking me over like that!” She looked at her sleeve and grumbled, “Coffee on my new coat, David.”

David closed the book and dropped it onto the end table. He glanced around but didn’t see Debra. He whispered, “Stop it.”

“Stop what?” His mother stood and moved to the sink to wash off her sleeve. “David, you need to seek help from someone. A counselor of some type. Or go to one of those rehabilitation centers or AA groups.” She rinsed her sleeve with cold water shaking her head sadly.

David noted the chill of the room increasing. He glanced around and narrowed his eyes.

His mother shut the tap off and looked around for a towel.

That’s when David saw Debra…and the knife. With cat-like grace, he leaned forward, snatched the knife from Debra, and yanked the towel from the refrigerator door. He slipped the towel in front of his mother’s face as he quietly slid the knife onto the counter. “Ta-daa! Towel.”

Eyes wide, David's Mother took the towel. Her jaw slackened slightly, then she whispered, “David. I saw the knife.” She dropped the towel onto the kitchen floor without drying her hands. “David.”

David tried with all his might to come up with why he would be waving a knife around his mother. Nothing fit. He watched as the color drained from his mother’s face.

She blinked. “It…it was floating. Just there. Floating in the air." His poor Mother's face was pale and shocked.  "Floating in the air, David.”

“Floating?” He looked over at the knife on the countertop. “Um…I don’t understand.” He furrowed his brow.

“Floating in the air, David. Right there. Inches before my face.” She was white as a ghost - an expression David found extremely funny in this particular situation.

“Mom? Are you ok?” He frowned. “You know, you don’t look at all well.” He cocked his head to one side. “Mom…are…are you on some sort of medication? Is this what that conversation about drugs was all about?” David forced concern onto his face. He felt bad about the bait and switch until he remembered all the horrid things his mother had said over the course of the hour plus this morning.

His mother blinked. “I’m leaving.”

“Maybe I should take you?” He patted her shoulders. “You look so tired. Sure you don’t want to come to the shops with me?”

Without a word, she hugged him and moved to the front door. Purse in hand, she looked back at David with her wide, owl-like eyes and shivered. “Say hello to Marty for me. Maybe we can all meet for dinner one night next month?” She shivered slightly.  “Out somewhere. I miss her.” She swallowed hard as she glanced around the apartment resting briefly on a photo on the wall of the living room. She made her way towards the door looking around like a child on a haunted house ride. She waved back at David, tried to produce a smile (more like a grimace), and closed the door behind herself quickly.

David waited and listened for the sound of the front gate slamming shut. He waited until he heard his mother’s car pulling away before saying a word.

He looked around and saw her as she appeared - moving through the wall of the kitchen pouting playfully. She turned from what looked like smoke to a shimmering outline of a woman. Petite and lithe, she moved toward him.

“Debra, that was really over the top.” He tried to sound stern.

Debra’s voice was a whisper that sounded like velvet dipped in honey.  “Oh David…I wasn’t going to hurt your mother.” She moved to his side and stroked his hair with a willowy, silver and translucent hand. She smelled like flowers and...rain. Her feet drifted a mere inch above the floor as she glided around him slowly.

“She’s an old woman, Debra. She could have had a heart attack.” He sighed. “Really, that was just not right.”

Debra pouted harder and slowly drifted backwards. Her velvet whisper drifted to his ears as she started to fade away. “I’m sorry David.”

“Wait." He sighed. "Come back.” David sighed again and placed his hands on his hips. “Come on.”

Debra appeared behind him. “What?” She blinked innocently. Her hair was cut in a short shag and her face was full and beautiful. Her hands moved behind her back and she looked coy.

David turned around and cocked his head to the side. “Just…be nicer?” He smiled sweetly to her. “Please? I mean...as mean as she is, she’s still my mother.”

Again, the syrupy whisper filled the room. “I’ll try.” She shimmered and a smile crossed her face.

David returned the smile and took a deep breath. He could smell her floral scent.

Debra’s arms wrapped around his neck and she pressed in closer. Her body rose slightly so her chest was at his eye level, then she slithered down his front. She floated above the floor looking into his eyes. Her silky voice seemed in front of him and all around him when she spoke.  “Forgive me?” Effort on her face and in her eyes, she became less translucent. More physically present. She kissed him and the room grew colder.

The two sank to the sofa.

The shops would wait.

___

A picture hung in the hallway of David's apartment. In it, a woman dressed in a mini-dress stands in David’s apartment’s kitchen by a refrigerator – an older style, but in the same spot. The image was slightly faded and the colors have mostly washed away.  She looks happy and vibrant as the brilliant, golden light streams through the kitchen window and lights up her face.

“Debra Shelly Summers, Eastmont Terrace, Summer 1963” was written in the corner of the 8x10 image. Even now, she didn't look a day over 30.

Soyokaze Stories: Yōkai

A short work of fiction based on stories within my N Scale layout. 

Yōkai (妖怪, ghost, phantom, strange apparition) are a class of supernatural monsters, spirits, and demons in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is made up of the kanji for "bewitching; attractive; calamity"; and "spectre; apparition; mystery; suspicious".[1] They can also be called ayakashi (あやかし), mononoke (物の怪), or mamono (魔物). Yōkai range diversely from the malevolent to the mischievous, or occasionally bring good fortune to those who encounter them.


I had just wrapped up my stay in Kitakyushu. It was a lovely time when all was said and done. This was the usual for this trip. More pleasure than business usually, however this trip had more importance than usual. More discussions. More political play. That combined with the general crush of the population and my contact Suda's desperate need to make sure I felt taken care of - shuttling me off to Mojiko for lunches or dinners and planning meetings that involved many documents being read through,  flower tunnels, and manga museums was just exhausting.

"The curry?" Suda paused his somewhat frantic feasting to check in on me.

I wiped my mouth and smiled a wide smile. "Glorious, thank you. The fish is a lovely touch." I nodded my head. "I'll miss this food and my present company." I smiled again letting him know that I was pleased. Something I seemed to have to do hourly to avoid his nervous planning.

"Excellent. Excellent." He laughed and went back to his feasting. He held up a finger and dipped his head to someone behind me. A small, full figured woman appeared with her hair drawn back into an intricate braid. She avoided looking at me, keeping her head tilted towards Suda as he looked her up and down, then locked onto the small, domed platter she carried.

He whispered in Japanese, "This is the Yamazaki 18, correct? The 18?" 

The woman bowed her head and smiled. "Yes, Mr. Suda. The 18, as requested. We brought it up for you. We have the gift box and bag along with your note. I'll bring it out to you when you are finished." She smiled a polite smile and took a step back from the table as she lifted the dome. She still didn't look towards me.

As the dome lifted, I could see the bottle of Yamazaki 18 whiskey. I wasn't sure just how much Suda had spent on it, but I knew it wasn't cheap. I also knew I'd never inquire. I'd just do an internet search for it later out of curiousity.

Suda smiled to the woman and watched as she bowed and walked away. "I love a healthy woman. I should have married." He waved his hand at invisible thoughts that seemed to float before his eyes for a moment. "This is for you, my friend. A fine whiskey, though I was pushing for something even more elaborate for you." He chuckled. "As a lover of whiskey, I'm sure this will please."

"This really wasn't necessary, but I appreciate the gift. It's very kind of you. Very." I smiled and thought how unfair it was that Suda's view of our friendship was far more warm than mine. But, how do you tell a person this?  "Would you share a glass with me now? Can we?"

His face lit up - more of the thoughts of friendship, most likely. "I couldn't. No no..."

I waved him off with a laugh. "Don't be absurd. With everything you've done for us this trip, it must happen." I turned to look for the woman again, but she must have slipped into the kitchen. I turned back to Suda and he motioned again with his finger and again the woman appeared, but made no eye contact with me. She placed two glasses on the table and motioned to the bottle. Suda nodded and she opened the bottle with expert care - a small blade drawn over the wrapping to release the cork, then a perfect amount poured into each glass. At that, she disappeared again.

"Not sure she likes me," I muttered with a grin.

"Superstitions and wife tales. Think nothing of it." He frowned slightly. He raised his glass. "To friendships and good business," he said as he waited for me to join in.

"To friendships and good business. I'd say Kanpai, but I'd prefer to sip this rather than draining it." I grinned and sipped with Suda, still thinking about his 'superstitions' comment.

"I'm happy that you are taking time to visit Soyokaze before returning home, Mr. Kenton. As a man in our industry, you simply must visit the Soyokaze Harbor."

I gave a silent prayer that Suda wouldn't go over the wonders of Soyokaze yet again. I wasn't sure I could take a third round of audio touring of the area. I cut in before he could start. "Yes, thanks again for making the arrangements on such short notice."

"Think nothing of it." He took another sip, then looked serious for a moment. He glanced behind me, then narrowed his eyes. "Do be careful while you travel. Just...the usual precautions." He broke his frown and grinned. "Soyokaze and Shizuka are safe spots in general, but they have been facing some...political drama of late."

"Has this to do with your suspicion comment earlier?"  I motioned behind me with my head.

Suda's laugh was nervous and forced. He sipped. "Silly. Silly. When we were here the other day, obaasan said that you had a darkness around you." He sat up with a worried expression when he saw me raise my eyebrow at the statement and blurted out, "Not that YOU are the darkness. No no...it's not a reflection of you personally. It's as if...you were being..." He shook his head and muttered, "How to describe?" in Japanese before saying, "A worry or omen around you? Not quite right." The frustration was visible on his face.''

"Well, I'll be careful." I tried to reassure him with me smile. I refilled our glasses. "Let's chase the gloom away, shall we?"


_______________



The train trip was uneventful and a visual feast. Cityscapes gave way to countryside as my train rocketed along. I was immediately glad that I waited the extra day to take in the view in the light of day. Kiwamura station was called out along with mentions of Shizuka and Soyokaze. I watched as we swept around Shizuka and thought that I had made the wrong choice for seating arrangements until I got a glimpse of Soyokaze Temple. I smiled as I heard Suda's detailed tour of the area playing in my head.

A woman's voice shocked me. "Lovely."

I turned my head away from the window and found myself looking directly into the face of a woman leaning over to get a view of the temple through my window. Her hair hung down around her head giving her head the appearance that is was disembodied for a moment.

She smiled at me, and stood up as the train entered a tunnel. The dim lights of the train cast a blueish glow over everything. The woman waved and walked off down the center of the car awkwardly. I glanced down at my bag in the seat next to me and saw that there were two small, character charms on the handle. A small sash of red leather was tied to one of the latches.

I bolted up and snatched the bag up trying to spot the woman that looked out of my window. She was heading into the next car with a bag that looked just like the one I held minus the trimmings.

My first impulse was to shout after her, but, believing that would be bad form, I made my way into the passage and followed her instead. I begged people's pardon as I pushed past to try and catch up with the woman. I was greeted with a mixture of sympathy from some and disgust from others as I slowly caught up with the woman.

The train came to a stop and people slowly started filing off. I lost sight of the woman immediately. Stepping off the train, and moved towards a small set of stairs to get a higher view.

"Sir! Sir!"  My train woman was waving her arm and holding up my bag. I returned the wave and held her bag up before stepping off the stairs and walking toward her. "I'm so sorry! Please forgive me. You must think I'm an idiot." She bowed and presented me with my bag. "I was in a fog."

Her English excellent. I had heard that that may be a small stumbling block for the trip in this area. "Not a problem at all. You were swept up in the wonder of the temple." I smiled and handed her her bag. She was dressed like a business worker - a sharp, black suit and white blouse. She looked to be my age, but I was never good at judging a person's age.

"Please, let me make it up to you for the inconvenience. May I?" She grinned.

"Really, it's not a problem."

"You might be hungry after the trip, yes? Are you staying in Shizuka? I can have our bags sent on and take you to lunch?" Suda's warning of a darkness and caution drifted away into our toast of friendships as I looked into the dark pools of her eyes.  "I am Ito Aoi." She bowed, but in a rather informal way that I appreciated.

"Richard Kenton." I bowed in the fashion Suda said was appropriate for these sorts of meetings.

"Kenton-sama - a pleasure." She held her briefcase before her. "Shall we get our bags?"

The next few minutes were a bit of a blur. I had not remembered actually agreeing to lunch, nor do I remember accepting her kind offer to have our bags shuttled to the hotels for us, yet there I giving her all of my hotel information and watching as she made the arrangements with the man at the desk at Kiwamura station. The man seemed a bit taken aback by her manor. I couldn't hear what she was saying to him, but there almost seemed to be a bit of cringing that was going on. I began to wonder if she was known here. Some sort of business giant, perhaps?

When she turned back to me leaving the man at the desk, he seemed to fly into action - waving over two porters. After he said something to them, they glanced over toward Ito Aoi and sprang into action, taking up the bags and moving them away quickly.

"I'm not sure what you said to them, but they seem to be moving rather quickly." I chuckled.

Aoi laughed a small laugh, covering her mouth her her hand.

Lunch was fantastic. After we left the station, we strolled across the parking area and got onto a small tram after Aoi asked if I'd mind going the long way around through Shizuka and back out to Soyokaze. I said that would be preferable so I could get the lay of the land. The tram ran through the very edge of Shizuka. Aoi pointed out my hotel as we passed it along with some other points of interest in the immediate area.

The tram wrapped around and circled back on itself, then let us out in the heart of Soyokaze. It was a fun little "old style" town filled with wooden buildings and street vendors.

"It's not busy today or tomorrow, but the day after will be a mess here. If you plan on coming back, I suggest you do it later today or tomorrow," she said matter-of-factly. She led me in a circle around the vendors pointing things out from time to time, then excused herself and made a call.

Moments later, a black sedan arrived and the driver hurried out of the car and opened the door for us. "Company driver." She smiled. "I won't be able to make it up and over the Temple hill in these heels. Do you mind?" She didn't wait for an answer and stepped into the back.

I smiled at the driver, but he just stared at me blankly as I slipped in behind her.

The veneer of politeness seemed to be fading as Aoi and I spoke. She wasn't rude or gruff with me, but she was very straight forward and began to drop some of the politenesses that she had shown at the train station.

"What is it that you do, may I ask? Do you work in the area or are you just visiting as well?" The car swung around a curve and the driver had to come to a quick stop for a truck that was turning around. Aoi blurted out angry words in Mandarin which through me for a loop. The driver muttered what seemed to be an apology back to her in Chinese as he bowed his head repeatedly.

"So sorry about that. The dangers of having lunch directly in the harbor. But the food here is as fresh as it could be. I believe it's worth the dangers of trucks...and my driver." She smirked and I mustered a smile, but the worried look in the drivers eyes in the rearview put me a bit on edge.

It wasn't until later that I realized that she never answered my question about her job. All through lunch, she skillfully avoided details about it as well. It was always a shallow description of a boring business relations position or a glorified assistant. But her vague nature made me even more curious over time.

Aoi checked her phone several times during lunch and took several photos of us eating after we got to know each other better. She showed me the last photo she took - a happy set of new friends chatting over lunch. The hand she held up with the V finger formation completed things nicely. Sadly, her hand blocked her face for the most part.

"I can send it to you - what is your email address?" She entered the address quickly as I gave it to her and hit send. My phone chimed and she continued to write things in the phone as I checked mine. I slipped it back into my pocket as she grinned at rather sinister grin.

"You can tell all of your friend's back home that you picked up some girl for the weekend off the train." She chuckled and I got a rather off-putting feel from her. A sharpness. "I'm sure that will go over well." She finished her beer and popped the last bit of salmon into her mouth. Her phone chimed and she checked it again. "Excuse me."  She stood and stomped off a few feet.

I glanced around the small shack of an eatery and around at the busy harbor goings on around us. Trucks were loaded, areas were cleaned, and people rushed about with clock-like order. I craned my head around and ducked it down a bit to get a look at the train being loaded up on the hillside above the harbor. A fine operation.

When I looked around, Aoi was taking another photo of me with that same, slightly sinister smile.  She typed something in as she returned to the table. "Give us some privacy," she said - her voice forceful and slightly gruff. The three restaurant workers rushed away closing the door behind them. I frowned and pushed my chair back a bit.

"Everything ok, Aoi-san?"

She waved a hand at me and refilled her glass as my phone rang. I went to answer it, but she shook her head at me. "Just leave that. He'll call back." She grinned and drank the beer down quickly. She tapped her phone against the side of her head and said, "So many moving parts in business, Richard. So many arrangements. Right?"

I nodded. "Um...," I laughed nervously. "What's going on here?" I stood.

"Down, boy." She pointed to my chair. "Sit."

I narrowed my eyes, smiled, and made my way to the door. I spun around when I heard her heels snapping against the hardwood floor rapidly behind me. She was a blur of motion and had me spun back towards the door with my left arm up behind my back and something sharp against my right side.

Her phone rang and she let my arm go, but kept the sharp object up against the small of my back. The pressure made it clear that she didn't want me to move. I heard the polite woman from the train answer the phone.

"Suda-sama! How nice of you to return my email so promptly!" Her voice was high and had a sing-song feel to it. She giggled, then dropped into the gruff register again switching back to English. "I was just keeping your associate company while you worked things out." She pressed the object into my back with a bit more force. "He's a fantastic conversationalist."

I heard the voice on the other end of her phone. It sounded manic. Frantic.

"I need you to let me - "   She pressed the object further into my back and cut me off.

"Suda. You know what we're looking for, yes? An agreement would do wonders for your friend here. Text my friends the information now. You have 45 seconds."   She hung up and slipped the phone up and in front of my face. Her texts were up and I recognized Suda's number.  "If my friends do not get what they want from your friend Suda...." She pressed harder and a sharp pain went up my spine.

My face was pressed against the door. I didn't move. Every time I tried to breathe, pain rang through me. I stared into the phone and Aoi's breath warmed my ear.

"Tick....tock.....tick....." she whispered into my ear.  "I hope Suda knows that I'm serious."

Her phone chimed. The message on the screen read RECEIVED. Nothing more. I felt the pressure in my back fade away.

"Well, it looks like things will be ok for you after all." Aoi giggled and backed away. When I turned to face her, she showed me the object that was in my back. It was a spoon - it's pointed handle side up.

I made a move towards her and her hand swung up into view. She spun her hand around several times and a knife flashed into view.

"No no...I don't want to get my butterfly dirty, Richard." She waved me aside with the knife and I moved away from the door. She moved forward and opened the door. The driver entered the room and Aoi moved back to the table and took a sip of her beer before speaking.  "Take Richard back to his hotel."

"Yes."  The driver looked at me, motioned with his head, then left the room.

"That's it?" I scowled at her.

"Afraid so. No sex for you." She laughed. "Come now. You're fine. Free to explore our glorious city. Run along."

Furious, I stormed out of the room and past the waiting car. I had had enough. The harbor was still in full swing and I had no concerns for my safety anymore. The only thing on my mind was getting to a police station. I pulled my phone out and called Suma immediately. It picked up after one ring.

"SUMA! What the FUCK was -"

"Mr. Kenton. You're going to want to let this all go."

"Who are you? Where is Suma?!"

"Just drop it. You're fine. Enjoy your trip. Let it go." The phone went dead.



_______________



Three hours later, I was still in the small police station I found and still trying to get someone to do something. However, after seeing the woman on my phone, the police said that they really had nothing to go on. I gave them her name, but nothing came up in the computer when they looked it up. When I asked them to send someone to the harbor, the agreed reluctantly and asked me to step into a small waiting room.

A man showed up shortly after and spoke to the police. As he spoke, several officers glanced in my direction. They seemed agitated and concerned and I was wondering what the stranger was saying to them to get that sort of reaction.

He made his way over to me entered the room closing the door behind him.

"Mr. Kenton. Stanley Roth." He held out his hand and I shook it without thinking. "So sorry that you were involved in all of this fiasco."

"Are you from the embassy?"

"The embassy? No. I'm from K.A.B.  They sent me over right away when they heard. What happened from the officers here."

He was from my company? I was confused and it must have shown on my face.

"Perhaps we can continue this conversation...elsewhere?"

I nodded and grabbed my coat. He was silent until we go out of the building.

"We've checked on Suda. He's gone. Security was trying to run a trace on the company phone, but they found it in his home. We were looking at his involvement in several confusing financial dealings, but never thought that things would get to this point. We just thought it was a simple case of embezzlement. It turns out it goes a bit further than that. We're just glad you're safe."

He pointed to a small garage and motioned me inside. I followed him through the dim parking area and towards the elevator. Someone rushed up behind me and shoved me aside. Roth spun around, but the woman was on him savagely. His face was filled with shock and pain as she slipped the butterfly knife into his side. She hissed as she pulled it out and brought the the handle down hard on his cheek. He went down hard and she snaked her hand through his hair, lifted his head, and brought it down hard on the concrete flooring. He was out cold.

Aoi stood after wiping the blade off hastily. "Don't you ever learn, Kenton-sama?" She laughed and I started to run. She called after me. "Maybe you should ask for ID when someone says they are from your company - huh?!"

My hand gripped the door handle and I stopped.

Aoi spun her hand around in a circle again and the blade folded back into the handle of the knife. "You're like a little boy asked if he'd like to go see puppies. Blindly following all strangers." Her laugh was cruel.

"Who was he?" I opened the door, longing to be closer to freedom before she got closer.

She slipped her hands out of the rubber gloves she wore. "Not Stanley Roth. No friend of yours."

"And you are?"

"Part of the deal. The only collateral damage there was to be was your friend Suda. He was not a very good boy. Not like you." She grinned.

I exited the garage and stepped out onto the sidewalk. People rushed by as I made my way away from the door before turning around. I half expected her to stay inside. To disappear out some side door. But seconds later she appeared, closed her eyes, and smiled up at the sunshine before making her way towards me. She raised her hand and two officers pushed past me.

The shock of the day was making my legs weak. I put out a hand to steady myself and rested against a bike rack.

"You're with the police?"

At that, she laughed hard and pointed at me. "You are hilarious. You should go home and never leave there." She giggled. "The police."  She checked her phone and sighed. "Well, Richard, I'm done with you it seems. All these little loose ends are done." Sirens filled the air as an ambulance rounded the corner and the officers that went inside pushed the door open and started waving people away.

Aoi turned and started to walk away. "No more running off to see puppies. Enjoy the rest of your trip."

I followed after her. "Wait. What the fuck was this all about?!"  Several people scowled at me as they passed by.

"Money, Richard. Bad people and money."

"What now?!"

Aoi ran across the street dodging vehicles as she did. I made to follow her, but wasn't going to try and make it across a busy street.


___________


The woman across from me pushed her glasses up on her nose and checked the small recorder in front of her. She lifted the photo of Aoi up and studied it for a moment before dropping it back down onto the table.

"Well, you are a luck man, Mr. Kenton. Very lucky. This all seemed very well planned and well executed. Yamato Suda's body was found three blocks away from his home. He'd been tortured for several hours, evidently."

I winced.

"And, with everything that you've told me since you've been back, it seems like the very same could have happened to you. This Ito woman seemed to be on the same side as Mr. Yamato's attackers.

"Poor Suda." I shook my head.

"Yes." She pushed another paper at me to sign. "Last one. I don't think I'll need anything else from you. I won't be calling you in again." She smiled. "We're confident that you won't let this story out, but..." she tapped the paper. "Better to have it in writing, right?"

I scanned the document. Classic NDA form with some specific additions about the company and the trip. I was tired and done with the whole of it, so I signed it without much thought.

"Thank you so much for your cooperation." She started slipping the papers and photos back into her bag.

"So it was all money then?"

She smiled. "Yes. Mostly. Money."



I made my way put of the room after saying my goodbyes to the Security woman, Tate, and made my way out of the K.A.B. building. The air downtown was chilly and damp. I turned and walked down a block to the coffee shop I frequented. As I ordered, my phone buzzed. I stepped over to wait for my coffee and took the phone from my pocket.

There was a message.  The sender phone number was the same as mine.

HERE. THESE SHOULD KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED AND SAFE AT HOME, KENTON-SAMA.   Affectionately, Yōkai   (´・ω・`)

Attached were about six photos of puppies.

A smile crossed my face.  What an smartass.

Soyokaze Stories: Miko, My Miko

(There is music at the bottom of this post to play while reading if so inclined. :) )

Miko Takara started to fish another cigarette out of her purse, but thought better of it when her stomach growled.

She crossed her legs and looked at her watch again. The next tram was due in 30 or so minutes. She told herself that she was done after that. He had his chances - three now - and this was it. Making her wait in this old station - it was a crime. A travesty.

A man in a white blazer stood at the far end of the station. He leaned against the railing and puffed at the stub of a cigarette before flicking it onto the tracks. She hated people who didn't take responsibility for their own waste. She was sure that he was leering at her as well.

She looked away as the white blazer man moved towards her. This was the topper for the afternoon. She was fuming.




"The next tram doesn't come through for another 30 minutes. You might want to consider getting on this one. It seems like you've been waiting for a while." The white blazer man motioned to the tram behind Miko. She absently glanced back.

"Yes, I know. I'm waiting for someone." She managed a polite, dismissive smile.

"Ah..yes...yes...sorry to disturb you. I just wasn't sure if you were waiting for...." He waved his hand and laughed the rest away. His waving hand slipped into his blazer as smoothly as a snake and slipped back into view with a packet of cigarettes. His fingers popped against the case and a single cigarette popped out from the top of the packet. Miko was sure this was a practiced move set to win over the hearts of college girls. Ridiculous.  Yet, before she knew it, she was reaching for the proffered cigarette and nodding her thanks. She slipped it into her mouth and waited for him to light it.

"I'm very sorry for bothering you," he said as he lit the cigarette with his silver lighter. Was that a robot on the side of it? Miko held back a laugh. A grown man with a robot lighter.

"Not a problem." She nodded again and checked her watch. He seemed nice enough, but she didn't need company right now.

"Gundam." He smiled a wide, silly smile as he showed her the lighter. "My daughter bought it for me. I have a passion for Mobile Suits."

Miko chuckled. She was caught off guard by the man's honestly. "Who doesn't?" She smiled.

The man looked at the lighter and his mouth curved into a sweet smile. A smile created from fond memories and cherished moments. "She's a sweetheart. She'll be on the 3:30 along with your friend." He pocketed the lighter. "I'm treating her to a night in Soyokaze. Big spender, huh?" He chuckled. "When your friend gets here, you two might want to try Kogane no - the food is fantastic."

Miko nodded again, slightly embarrassed and wondering if he had heard her stomach from way over there. "We'll look for it. Thank you."

"Well, take care." He bent forward slightly and nodded his head. He meandered back to his spot at the railing and she watched as he lit another cigarette and checked his watch again.

Chimes twinkled brightly and a voice drifted over the small speaker above her head.

"The next tram from Kokubunji will arrive in 30 minutes."


••


"I'm so sorry! I missed the train. I couldn't get out of work. I'll get the next one?" The man's voice crackled through the phone like he was talking through paper.

Miko held the phone to her ear, but only half listened.

She stared off down the platform as the white blazer man hugged a lovely girl with a ponytail. He pulled her to his side as they made their way towards the path. He was much taller, but she could see the resemblance in their faces. As they passed, Miko smiled toward them as the girl chastised the white blazer man playfully for still smoking.  The man waved to Miko, but said nothing.

"Miko-san? Miko-san?" The voice again - buzzing in her ear like a mosquito. A fly.

"Don't bother coming." Miko's voice was sad and tired.

"Miko-san, I--"

Miko hung up and turned off her phone before slipping it back into her purse. She stared off towards Soyokaze Temple and took a deep breath. "Bastard." Her stomach growled again and she glanced around to see if anyone was in earshot.

Miko stood and made her way toward the path in search of food.  Maybe that Kogane no place the man spoke about.

She wished she asked what his name was.


  

Soyokaze Stories: Harbor

The gray haired man stared down towards the group below with disdain and indignation. How dare they?! It was pathetic - this mob behavior. He checked his watch. They had been at this for hours. He'd be damned if it was going to stop him from leaving the building again. Having to have lunch brought in was one thing, but being held hostage by protestors in his own building? That was outrageous.

"Did you need me to call someone, Sir?"

He turned to face his assistant - his face a blank as if he didn't know what she was saying.

"A car? Additional police officers? Namura is doing his best, but...there are so many of them now." She rubbed her arm. "It's disturbing."

He snapped himself back into awareness. "No, thank you, Miss Tanaka. I'll be fine."

"I'm worried. Perhaps setting a meeting to talk through the harbor planning would...." She was cut off by his stern and warning tone.

"Miss Tanaka. I will not be blackmailed or threatened into meeting with hostile workers and villagers. I have made my decision based on the facts and the finances that are involved, not sentimentality and fear. Agreed?" His brow furrowed when her face fell and she looked to the floor. "You don't agree?"

She raised her head. "May I sit?"

He nodded with a grunt, waited for her to sit, then took his chair. The sun blazed in through the open window behind him. He pressed a button on his desk and the window behind him grew darker - the LCD shade slipping into a smoky, opaque state.

"Thank you." She smiled, then said, "Sir, you know that I hold you in the highest regard. I've worked for and with you for many years now." She folded her hands in her lap and maintained eye contact. "But, I do not agree with the company's stance on the situation in Soyokaze." She kept her eyes trained on his.

Gorou Yamashita lifted his chin slightly, relaxed his brow and said, "Why? What did you find wrong in our choice, Miss Tanaka?"

Tanaka drew in a breath. "According the environmental studies presented, making the harbor area larger will not have lasting, adverse affects on the surrounding area. Due to land right issues, the only ones that would be allowed to fish in the area are members of the Soyokaze fishing community." She licked her dry lips. She wasn't prepared, but the documents were fresh in her mind. "And the major benefit to the people of Soyokaze and the people of Shizuka based on the increased product would be immense."

"And, what about the future, Miss Tanaka?" He wanted to stand, but remained seated. "A future where the people of Soyokaze are worse off due to land being overworked, seas being over-fished and and the charm that drives tourists there in the first place torn from them by greed? What then?"

"Do you honestly thing they would let that happen, Sir?" Her eyes remained locked on his. She paused for a moment, then continued when he remained silent. "These people like their village small. They are comfortable. The Mashita Family has worked for generations to ensure that this remains the case. So much work has gone into building their community and building the relationship between Soyokaze and Shizuka."

Yamashita nodded.

Tanaka continued. "Many people have tried to purchase land for the development of hotels and resorts in the area and they have refused time and time again. They simply want their say in their industry and...." She stopped herself.

"Go on." Yamashita leaned back in his chair and waited.

"They want us out of it, Sir."

He stared at her for a moment, then nodded.

---------------------------

The heat started to creep in around the edges of the morning at the harbor of Soyokaze. Work was put on hold as crowds pressed into the limited space. The smell of salt air and fish mixed with the blooming blossoms at the station. A cool breeze swept through the crowd from time to time like a blessing.

Cameras focused on Gorou Yamashita as the officers on the scene tried to calm the mixed crowd of sightseers, protestors and villagers. They were wild with energy - Yamashita's announcement still hanging in the air. The shouts and cheers were deafening.

Yamashita held up his hand and asked for another moment of quiet. The roar turned to a murmur.

"Thank you. Thank you." He nodded and motioned to the front row of chairs before him. "Yes, Ms. Namura?"

A woman in a blue dress stood and called out over the rumble of the crowd. "Thank you. What brought about this change, if I may ask? The people of Soyokaze have tried to get this passed for months and you and your company have done what you could to stop this harbor project from going through. Why the change of stance now, if I may ask?"

Yamashita nodded, acknowledging the question, then thought a moment. He glanced down to the podium, then back up to the crowd. "In life, we make many choices. We base these choices on many factors. Many past experiences. There are times where these past experiences get in the way of future plans. This was the case here." He tapped the podium. "Uminoikimono has spoken with additional resources after this most recent push for Soyokaze Harbor development and a new voice has helped us come to this decision. We appreciate the patience of the people of Soyokaze and the additional advice of the person in question." He nodded and held up his hand once more. "Thank you."

At that, Yamashita turned from the podium and made his way back to his chair amongst the roar of a happy crowd and the clicking and flashing of cameras.

Soyokaze Stories: Incorporeal Reflection

Soyokaze Stories: 
  Incorporeal Reflection

HALLOWEEN,  Shizuka Japan, 1989

The crisp, October air was alive with music and the smell of food as masked figures and cheerful onlookers mingled in the street.  Three girls wandered down the Shizuka street as the Halloween festival sizzled around them. Their Gothic Lolita styling blended traditional Japanese garments with their unique take on the modern vampire rounding out their costumes with small, cute trinkets.

Akiyama Akane steered the group through the crowd in an effort to make her way closer to some of the photographers in the area while her two friends followed close behind. Her Father’s whiskey was still coursing through them as the surrounded another unsuspecting soul with a camera. They loved posing and made a sport of it from time to time.

“Photo?” Akane smiled and let her fangs show. The older man nodded energetically and raised his camera. Akane motioned for Rin and Shigeko to fall into line and the did it in a well practiced manor. They loved these old etchi.

The man smiled and nodded again. “Another?”

Akane posed with Rin, but Shigeko moved away. She had had enough of this and was feeling the chill and the hunger in her stomach. She was tired and wanted to camp out somewhere and stop moving for a while.

“And again, Shigeko lives up to her name and wanders off to rest before she faints away.” Akane smiled her cruel smile. “Come. We’ll get your food. I don’t want you begging out of tonight altogether.”

Shigeko’s sister Rin pouted playfully. “Poor Shigeko.” She swooned. “Too much walking for Princess?”

Shigeko waved them off with her hand outstretched and nails lifting out towards them in a shoo now gesture they were all too familiar with. “You two should have been sisters. You’re both idiots.”

The girls laughed and pulled Shigeko up by her arm. “Come, Drama. Let’s go eat.”


~


Night fell and the festivals of Shizuka and Soyokaze continued to fill the air with song and laughter. Multicolored lights lit up the night as the three girls stepped from the tram in Soyokaze station. All three had had enough walking for a while, but they had a little farther to travel on foot. They were not at their final destination yet, but they could see it above them in the darkness.

Akane pulled her flask from the purse she carried and sipped. She passed it to Rin and watched as the girl finished what was left of the whiskey within it. “Hey, what about Shigeko, Rin-chan?!” She yanked the empty flask back.

“That’s fine, I don’t need more.” Shigeko stared up towards the hillside with a blank expression.

“Well, I suppose it’s better this way. She shows up back at home smelling of whiskey and she’ll never see 19!” Akane laughed. “You - you can just blame Shigeko for your breath, Rin. Let big sister -“

Shigeko cut her off. “Will your brother really let us up there? He’ll loose his job if he gets caught.”

Akana held out her hand in a fist. “And I’ll do worse if he DOESN’T let us up there!” She laughed and turned to stare up at the hillside with the other two girls.

Soyokaze Temple loomed above. Beams of light shown up from the ground and illuminated the wondrous structure while dark trees set shadows falling and remained dark around it. The three made their way towards Akane’s brothers guard station at the base of Soyokaze Temple Hill.

~




Hours passed and all three of the girls longed for the warmth the whiskey had provided. They had not planned on Soyokaze’s fog bringing the temperature down so low on their adventure. Rin slapped Akane in the arm and barked, “Enough of this. She’s not coming. I want to go home.”

“We have another 30 minutes before my brother leaves.”

“We can take the tram. I just want to go. This is stupid.”

Akane ignored Rin’s request and narrowed her eyes searching the darkness for Shigeko. “Where is she now?”

“Wandering around again.” Rin snarled bitterly, “I hope she falls to her death like that-“

“STOP!” Akane punched Rin’s arm and stared at her with wide and scared eyes. “What are you thinking?! Saying such things here. In front of her.” She shivered. “And to make fun of the way she died.” It was the first time Rin had ever seen Akane look scared. 

“It’s make believe, Akane. The only reason I’m here is to meet your brother.” Rin rubbed at her arm and whispered, “Crazy busu.”

Shigeko’s scream made them both jump and cling to each other.

They watched as she bolted through the bushes and around the back of the temple. She was barefoot and had her dress yanked to her thighs as she ran towards them - her face a mask of terror. She screamed again and pushed past the two girls. Her dress caught and she was tossed forward, landing in a heap in the wet grass before them. She shoved herself up and managed to scream, “RUN!” before starting to descend the steps back down to the parking area.

Akane and Rin made their way down the steps adding their screams to Shigeko’s. Akane held her hand out before her to block her view of the burial area to the left. Somehow, knowing it was still there behind her hand filled her with more fear and her screams became louder.

Rin shouted down to Shigeko as they ran. “What?! What was it?!” She tried to look back, but the steep stairs and flowing dress made it impossible to do without breaking her neck.

Shigeko said nothing as she yanked her dress higher and continued to run. The last few stairs were the only thing she could focus on. Something sprang from the darkness and grabbed her before she reached the parking lot.

~


HALLOWEEN,  Soyokaze, Japan 2014

Ueda Masao stared out over the harbor as he finished his meal. Waves beat against the seawall  and a fine mist added to the dampness of the fog. He absently popped another piece of fish into his mouth and watched the lights on the boats bob from side to side.

The man to his right licked his fingers and waved for the check. He sipped at his beer and said, “So, you two got married after she finished screaming up there?” The man chuckled and finished the beer. “I can’t imagine.” He glanced back towards the temple. “I would have liked to see that whole scene.” He chuckled. “Romantic, really. Right? Saving a girl you hardly knew from a ghost? Her samurai.”

Masao nodded. His eyes remained locked on the harbor. “I could feel her heart beating as I hugged her to me. Her screams - they made my eyes giggle in my skull - they were so damn loud.” He smiled. “When Akane and Rin smashed into us and we all fell into the lot, I thought my neck was broken for sure. All of them screaming and screaming.”

“And, you believed her?” Yamada dabbed his mouth with the napkin and stood to stretch his back. “This ghost story she told?”

Masao stood with his friend and tossed money onto the table. Yamada knew better than to try to convince Masao to let him pay for his share. Masao took a deep breath and let the salty air fill his lungs. “Not at first. No way. But, over the years it grew on me. All the nightmares. The books and research she was always doing.” He looked to Yamada and said, “She saw something up there. I’m not sure what, but it was something that scared her.”

“A ghost lady?”

Masao shrugged. “Her sister thinks I’m a fool for coming here of all places, but I feel like it’s the least I can do for her now that….” He let his words fall away. Yamada gripped his shoulder. Masao continued. “I wanted to do it sooner, but I needed a little more time.” He nodded.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go up there with you?” Yamada tried to lighten the mood. “You made me eat among all this fishing scrap and smell instead of over the hill in one of those lovely, warm good places, Mr. Cheap. I might as well go up there and ghost hunt with you.” He smiled.

Masao grinned. “This place is the best and you know it.” He chuckled and shook his head no. “No. No, I’ll go alone. I’ll see you back at the hotel.” Masao patted his friend on the arm and turned to go. “And I mean it.”

Yamada raised his hands and bowed his head - surrendering. He smiled and dropped his hands to his sides as he watched his friend make his journey.


~


Fog drifted around the buildings and through the trees and Masao made his way to the second set of stairs. He stopped to get a read on where he was. According to Rin and the photos he saw on the internet, the stairs were around to the left and the burial area was around to the right. He reached inside his coat and groped around for his cigarettes before remembering.

Never another cigarette. His heart sank for a moment as he remembered his wife in her hospital bed. Gone.

The fog chilled him from his gloom and he inhaled sharply before turning and walking around the building to the right. The small markers were lit by a light mounted on the roof of the second tier building.

Masao stood in the silence and stared around the area. Part of him wanted to call out, but he thought it silly. He glanced at his watch. He had another 45 minutes before he had to be back down to the guard station and off the premises.

“Hello?” He rolled his eyes. “Hello? I’m Ueda Masao. You scared my wife here once. She saw you.” He looked around, then back in the direction he came from. His nerves made him examine every shadow. He counted on the substantial financial offering given to the guard to prevent the young man from trying to scare him up here. Masao swore he’d toss him off the hill if he tried.

He made his way through the brush and back around the backside of the building, pausing briefly when he saw the huge pool of blackness he had to cross to get to the stairs. He pushed forward and fought the urge to walk all the way around the front of the building again just to be able to stay in the light.

It seemed to get colder in the center of the darkness, but he shook it off and continued on to the stairs. As he climbed up, he stared up to the top of the temple spire which was barely visible in the fog shrouded night sky.

“Amazing that you three ran down these stairs in those costumes, Shigeko.” He smiled and shook his head. He reached the top of the steep stairs and turned to stare back down at the burial area and building. He craned his head forward to peer into the blackness behind the building. He wanted to make more of the shapes and motion in it, but as the wind blew and fog chilled him, he knew better. Plants and wind was all.

Now, for the final task. Behind the Temple. His heart beat a little faster in his chest as he remembered Shigeko’s description of the thing she saw.

“She was beautiful and terrible. She was like…and angel. A vision. She shimmered like the fog and seemed to long to be with me, but made no move towards me. Like me, she was in traditional clothing - all white, black and red. She looked…wet. She….she didn’t have a face, Masao.”

A shiver ran down Masao’s back. He bit his bottom lip, then pushed forward again. He moved with caution. He remembered RIn telling him that there was a drop here somewhere. He had no intention of falling onto rails tonight. He scanned the darkness. Another chill almost sent him running for the stairs. His voice caught in his throat, he swallowed, then called out, “Hello? Hello, I am Ueda Masao and my wife - she saw you here years ago.”

“Would a ghost know years?”  Masao thought to himself.

“She’s…she’s gone now. She…” Masao swallowed hard again. “She passed away.” He coughed and wiped a tear that caught in the corner of his eye. “She died. Died a month and a half ago.”

Fog wiped around Masao and a cold wind made the trees sway around him and hiss softly.

“She saw you here. Right here.” He smiled. “You scared her so much that she….she ran all the way down the hillside.” A laugh escaped him - sharp and short - as he remembered back to the night. Shigeko slamming into him and him holding her tight even after Akane and Rin collided with them and sent them crashing to the ground. “She never stopped talking about you. Looking for signs of how she might help you.”

Masao lost his fears - letting them drift away with the fog. He slumped and sat on the wet grass and stared off towards the ocean. The darkness enveloped him and wrapped him in a sort of calm. He looked up at the temple, then back over his shoulder towards the village. He closed his eyes and thought about his beautiful wife. His beautiful life with her.

Masao opened his eyes and pushed himself up to his feet. He glanced at his watch and made note of the mere minutes he had left. A thought passed over him.

“If you are here somewhere, thank you. You introduced me to my wife and made us very, very happy.” He thought a moment. “I hope that brings you happiness.”

Masao turned and made his way to the stairs. As he descended the stone steps, he thought that he heard something move behind him. He didn’t turn to look, however. Whatever was there could stay there with the dark and the fog. He had to go. He decided that he’d head home in the morning to deal with his own ghosts. Get his son from Rin and take him on a trip somewhere. He still had a few days left of vacation.

As he approached the stairs, the wind kicked up leaves around his feet, swirling them and sending dust up around his knees. Something raced up behind him with a rush - he could feel it swoop up behind him. He spun around half tripping over his own feet. His heart beat hard in his chest as he caught himself.

The guard adjusted his wind blown hat and jacket and stared up at Masao from the parking area. “Hey, Mister! You ok up there? Time’s up, Sir.”

Masao stared back towards the top of the hill, his wide eyes darting back and forth scanning the dark. He turned and made his way down the stairs quickly trying not to run.

“Did you hear that?” Masao’s eyes begged for an answer from the guard.

“Hear what, Sir?” The guard frowned. “You were too far away from me to hear you if you said something. I’m sorry.”

“No not - I didn’t say something is was…” Masao pointed up the stairs, then withdrew the gesture and dropped his arm. “Never mind.” He smiled.

The guard returned his smile, then looked around at his feet and back up at Masao. “That story you told me. True?” He pointed at the ground at their feet. The spot where Masao caught Shigeko.

Masao nodded with a smile and slipped his hands into his pockets. “Thank you for letting me stroll around up there.” He turned and moved down through the parking area towards town.

The guard shouted after him. “Thanks for the story. Very nice, Sir.”  He touched the brim of his hat. “Goodnight, Sir.”

Masao half heard the guard’s words as he pushed his hands deeper into his pockets and made his way down the parking ramp and off down the stairs. He didn’t know what to think. He was numb from the experience. He was sure he heard it. A faint voice among the rush of wind - small and sweet like a reed.

It whispered, “Anata ga aishita.”    

“You loved.”

Shadows

(( A true story ))

Bedtime is usually pretty much the same every night at our house. Dinner is followed by a little light playing where the girls get out their last burst of energy. Then, it's off to bath, pajamas and teeth brushing before we do a family book or three. My wife and I steal bits of time here and there to clean so we don't have so much to deal with post-bedtime. It's rather standard nightly.

Once the books are read, we split into two groups. My wife hangs out with our two year old in the living room while I head back to the girls room with my four year old for one more book. We figure that they can never get enough books and love making the time for them since they love them so much.

Lastly, after I read one book, I tell my daughter a Swan Boat Story. I've made up these Swam Boat Stories since my oldest was a toddler. Tales of the girls on a giant boat that has a swan head front to it with friends and anthropomorphized versions of their stuffed animals - going on adventures and learning from their experiences. It's going to be a sad day when she doesn't want to hear these stories anymore.

We usually chat as she falls asleep before her sister is dropped off by her mother. We talk through the day, dreams, or whatever is stuck in her mind at the moment. I make an effort to get her to be master of her dream life, telling her that her dreams are hers and that she can make them whatever she wants. I let her know that if she can make an effort to think of happier things as she falls asleep, she might have happier dreams once she's out. I hope that she might pick up some of this through repetition.

Last night, as we were chatting, she interrupted me.

"Daddy, did you know that one night I looked down and there was this big, black shape where you're standing? I thought it was Mommy, but it wasn't." 

I tried not to let my own, dark imagination run wild with that one, but the "creepy things kids say" posts came to mind at once. Keeping my "think happier thoughts" mantra in mind, I came back with, "Oh...hmph....it was probably me checking on your sister then." I rubbed her head and smiled.

She looked at me with serious eyes and said, "No, it wasn't you."

I smiled again and furrowed my brow. "Huh...that's odd." 

Thankfully, my wife entered the room at that point with our youngest and I started playing some bedtime music from their Spotify, bedtime playlist. They both fell asleep quickly and I exited.

That night, what my daughter said went through my head around 1am when one of them called out from a dream. I listed for the sound of pattering feet, but they must have drifted back to sleep. A few minutes later, one of them called out again and the quiet, "No, it wasn't you" went through my head again. I got up and moved off into their room to check on them. Of course, they were both sound asleep and safe. I covered them up and tried to fall back to sleep, but couldn't for a long while.

The familiar podcast game started as I tried to get my mind derailed enough to fall back to sleep. But, between the shifting and trying to get comfortable, what my daughter said continued to rattle around in my head. Glances around the room revealed the usual, creepy dark room shadows that are present every night.

"It's the same in that dark as it is in the light." That's what we tell our daughters. I got it from a Rod Serling quote I once read. "There is nothing in the dark that isn't there when the lights are on." 

Most of the time I believe it completely. However, there are times....when I wonder.

Soyokaze Stories: Incorporeal Reflection (from my NRAIL blog)

Soyokaze Stories: 
  Incorporeal Reflection

HALLOWEEN,  Shizuka Japan, 1989

The crisp, October air was alive with music and the smell of food as masked figures and cheerful onlookers mingled in the street.  Three girls wandered down the Shizuka street as the Halloween festival sizzled around them. Their Gothic Lolita styling blended traditional Japanese garments with their unique take on the modern vampire rounding out their costumes with small, cute trinkets.

Akiyama Akane steered the group through the crowd in an effort to make her way closer to some of the photographers in the area while her two friends followed close behind. Her Father’s whiskey was still coursing through them as the surrounded another unsuspecting soul with a camera. They loved posing and made a sport of it from time to time.

“Photo?” Akane smiled and let her fangs show. The older man nodded energetically and raised his camera. Akane motioned for Rin and Shigeko to fall into line and the did it in a well practiced manor. They loved these old etchi.

The man smiled and nodded again. “Another?”

Akane posed with Rin, but Shigeko moved away. She had had enough of this and was feeling the chill and the hunger in her stomach. She was tired and wanted to camp out somewhere and stop moving for a while.

“And again, Shigeko lives up to her name and wanders off to rest before she faints away.” Akane smiled her cruel smile. “Come. We’ll get your food. I don’t want you begging out of tonight altogether.”

Shigeko’s sister Rin pouted playfully. “Poor Shigeko.” She swooned. “Too much walking for Princess?”

Shigeko waved them off with her hand outstretched and nails lifting out towards them in a shoo now gesture they were all too familiar with. “You two should have been sisters. You’re both idiots.”

The girls laughed and pulled Shigeko up by her arm. “Come, Drama. Let’s go eat.”


~


Night fell and the festivals of Shizuka and Soyokaze continued to fill the air with song and laughter. Multicolored lights lit up the night as the three girls stepped from the tram in Soyokaze station. All three had had enough walking for a while, but they had a little farther to travel on foot. They were not at their final destination yet, but they could see it above them in the darkness.

Akane pulled her flask from the purse she carried and sipped. She passed it to Rin and watched as the girl finished what was left of the whiskey within it. “Hey, what about Shigeko, Rin-chan?!” She yanked the empty flask back.

“That’s fine, I don’t need more.” Shigeko stared up towards the hillside with a blank expression.

“Well, I suppose it’s better this way. She shows up back at home smelling of whiskey and she’ll never see 19!” Akane laughed. “You - you can just blame Shigeko for your breath, Rin. Let big sister -“

Shigeko cut her off. “Will your brother really let us up there? He’ll loose his job if he gets caught.”

Akana held out her hand in a fist. “And I’ll do worse if he DOESN’T let us up there!” She laughed and turned to stare up at the hillside with the other two girls.

Soyokaze Temple loomed above. Beams of light shown up from the ground and illuminated the wondrous structure while dark trees set shadows falling and remained dark around it. The three made their way towards Akane’s brothers guard station at the base of Soyokaze Temple Hill.

~




Hours passed and all three of the girls longed for the warmth the whiskey had provided. They had not planned on Soyokaze’s fog bringing the temperature down so low on their adventure. Rin slapped Akane in the arm and barked, “Enough of this. She’s not coming. I want to go home.”

“We have another 30 minutes before my brother leaves.”

“We can take the tram. I just want to go. This is stupid.”

Akane ignored Rin’s request and narrowed her eyes searching the darkness for Shigeko. “Where is she now?”

“Wandering around again.” Rin snarled bitterly, “I hope she falls to her death like that-“

“STOP!” Akane punched Rin’s arm and stared at her with wide and scared eyes. “What are you thinking?! Saying such things here. In front of her.” She shivered. “And to make fun of the way she died.” It was the first time Rin had ever seen Akane look scared. 

“It’s make believe, Akane. The only reason I’m here is to meet your brother.” Rin rubbed at her arm and whispered, “Crazy busu.”

Shigeko’s scream made them both jump and cling to each other.

They watched as she bolted through the bushes and around the back of the temple. She was barefoot and had her dress yanked to her thighs as she ran towards them - her face a mask of terror. She screamed again and pushed past the two girls. Her dress caught and she was tossed forward, landing in a heap in the wet grass before them. She shoved herself up and managed to scream, “RUN!” before starting to descend the steps back down to the parking area.

Akane and Rin made their way down the steps adding their screams to Shigeko’s. Akane held her hand out before her to block her view of the burial area to the left. Somehow, knowing it was still there behind her hand filled her with more fear and her screams became louder.

Rin shouted down to Shigeko as they ran. “What?! What was it?!” She tried to look back, but the steep stairs and flowing dress made it impossible to do without breaking her neck.

Shigeko said nothing as she yanked her dress higher and continued to run. The last few stairs were the only thing she could focus on. Something sprang from the darkness and grabbed her before she reached the parking lot.

~


HALLOWEEN,  Soyokaze, Japan 2014

Ueda Masao stared out over the harbor as he finished his meal. Waves beat against the seawall  and a fine mist added to the dampness of the fog. He absently popped another piece of fish into his mouth and watched the lights on the boats bob from side to side.

The man to his right licked his fingers and waved for the check. He sipped at his beer and said, “So, you two got married after she finished screaming up there?” The man chuckled and finished the beer. “I can’t imagine.” He glanced back towards the temple. “I would have liked to see that whole scene.” He chuckled. “Romantic, really. Right? Saving a girl you hardly knew from a ghost? Her samurai.”

Masao nodded. His eyes remained locked on the harbor. “I could feel her heart beating as I hugged her to me. Her screams - they made my eyes giggle in my skull - they were so damn loud.” He smiled. “When Akane and Rin smashed into us and we all fell into the lot, I thought my neck was broken for sure. All of them screaming and screaming.”

“And, you believed her?” Yamada dabbed his mouth with the napkin and stood to stretch his back. “This ghost story she told?”

Masao stood with his friend and tossed money onto the table. Yamada knew better than to try to convince Masao to let him pay for his share. Masao took a deep breath and let the salty air fill his lungs. “Not at first. No way. But, over the years it grew on me. All the nightmares. The books and research she was always doing.” He looked to Yamada and said, “She saw something up there. I’m not sure what, but it was something that scared her.”

“A ghost lady?”

Masao shrugged. “Her sister thinks I’m a fool for coming here of all places, but I feel like it’s the least I can do for her now that….” He let his words fall away. Yamada gripped his shoulder. Masao continued. “I wanted to do it sooner, but I needed a little more time.” He nodded.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go up there with you?” Yamada tried to lighten the mood. “You made me eat among all this fishing scrap and smell instead of over the hill in one of those lovely, warm good places, Mr. Cheap. I might as well go up there and ghost hunt with you.” He smiled.

Masao grinned. “This place is the best and you know it.” He chuckled and shook his head no. “No. No, I’ll go alone. I’ll see you back at the hotel.” Masao patted his friend on the arm and turned to go. “And I mean it.”

Yamada raised his hands and bowed his head - surrendering. He smiled and dropped his hands to his sides as he watched his friend make his journey.


~


Fog drifted around the buildings and through the trees and Masao made his way to the second set of stairs. He stopped to get a read on where he was. According to Rin and the photos he saw on the internet, the stairs were around to the left and the burial area was around to the right. He reached inside his coat and groped around for his cigarettes before remembering.

Never another cigarette. His heart sank for a moment as he remembered his wife in her hospital bed. Gone.

The fog chilled him from his gloom and he inhaled sharply before turning and walking around the building to the right. The small markers were lit by a light mounted on the roof of the second tier building.

Masao stood in the silence and stared around the area. Part of him wanted to call out, but he thought it silly. He glanced at his watch. He had another 45 minutes before he had to be back down to the guard station and off the premises.

“Hello?” He rolled his eyes. “Hello? I’m Ueda Masao. You scared my wife here once. She saw you.” He looked around, then back in the direction he came from. His nerves made him examine every shadow. He counted on the substantial financial offering given to the guard to prevent the young man from trying to scare him up here. Masao swore he’d toss him off the hill if he tried.

He made his way through the brush and back around the backside of the building, pausing briefly when he saw the huge pool of blackness he had to cross to get to the stairs. He pushed forward and fought the urge to walk all the way around the front of the building again just to be able to stay in the light.

It seemed to get colder in the center of the darkness, but he shook it off and continued on to the stairs. As he climbed up, he stared up to the top of the temple spire which was barely visible in the fog shrouded night sky.

“Amazing that you three ran down these stairs in those costumes, Shigeko.” He smiled and shook his head. He reached the top of the steep stairs and turned to stare back down at the burial area and building. He craned his head forward to peer into the blackness behind the building. He wanted to make more of the shapes and motion in it, but as the wind blew and fog chilled him, he knew better. Plants and wind was all.

Now, for the final task. Behind the Temple. His heart beat a little faster in his chest as he remembered Shigeko’s description of the thing she saw.

“She was beautiful and terrible. She was like…and angel. A vision. She shimmered like the fog and seemed to long to be with me, but made no move towards me. Like me, she was in traditional clothing - all white, black and red. She looked…wet. She….she didn’t have a face, Masao.”

A shiver ran down Masao’s back. He bit his bottom lip, then pushed forward again. He moved with caution. He remembered RIn telling him that there was a drop here somewhere. He had no intention of falling onto rails tonight. He scanned the darkness. Another chill almost sent him running for the stairs. His voice caught in his throat, he swallowed, then called out, “Hello? Hello, I am Ueda Masao and my wife - she saw you here years ago.”

“Would a ghost know years?”  Masao thought to himself.

“She’s…she’s gone now. She…” Masao swallowed hard again. “She passed away.” He coughed and wiped a tear that caught in the corner of his eye. “She died. Died a month and a half ago.”

Fog wiped around Masao and a cold wind made the trees sway around him and hiss softly.

“She saw you here. Right here.” He smiled. “You scared her so much that she….she ran all the way down the hillside.” A laugh escaped him - sharp and short - as he remembered back to the night. Shigeko slamming into him and him holding her tight even after Akane and Rin collided with them and sent them crashing to the ground. “She never stopped talking about you. Looking for signs of how she might help you.”

Masao lost his fears - letting them drift away with the fog. He slumped and sat on the wet grass and stared off towards the ocean. The darkness enveloped him and wrapped him in a sort of calm. He looked up at the temple, then back over his shoulder towards the village. He closed his eyes and thought about his beautiful wife. His beautiful life with her.

Masao opened his eyes and pushed himself up to his feet. He glanced at his watch and made note of the mere minutes he had left. A thought passed over him.

“If you are here somewhere, thank you. You introduced me to my wife and made us very, very happy.” He thought a moment. “I hope that brings you happiness.”

Masao turned and made his way to the stairs. As he descended the stone steps, he thought that he heard something move behind him. He didn’t turn to look, however. Whatever was there could stay there with the dark and the fog. He had to go. He decided that he’d head home in the morning to deal with his own ghosts. Get his son from Rin and take him on a trip somewhere. He still had a few days left of vacation.

As he approached the stairs, the wind kicked up leaves around his feet, swirling them and sending dust up around his knees. Something raced up behind him with a rush - he could feel it swoop up behind him. He spun around half tripping over his own feet. His heart beat hard in his chest as he caught himself.

The guard adjusted his wind blown hat and jacket and stared up at Masao from the parking area. “Hey, Mister! You ok up there? Time’s up, Sir.”

Masao stared back towards the top of the hill, his wide eyes darting back and forth scanning the dark. He turned and made his way down the stairs quickly trying not to run.

“Did you hear that?” Masao’s eyes begged for an answer from the guard.

“Hear what, Sir?” The guard frowned. “You were too far away from me to hear you if you said something. I’m sorry.”

“No not - I didn’t say something is was…” Masao pointed up the stairs, then withdrew the gesture and dropped his arm. “Never mind.” He smiled.

The guard returned his smile, then looked around at his feet and back up at Masao. “That story you told me. True?” He pointed at the ground at their feet. The spot where Masao caught Shigeko.

Masao nodded with a smile and slipped his hands into his pockets. “Thank you for letting me stroll around up there.” He turned and moved down through the parking area towards town.

The guard shouted after him. “Thanks for the story. Very nice, Sir.”  He touched the brim of his hat. “Goodnight, Sir.”

Masao half heard the guard’s words as he pushed his hands deeper into his pockets and made his way down the parking ramp and off down the stairs. He didn’t know what to think. He was numb from the experience. He was sure he heard it. A faint voice among the rush of wind - small and sweet like a reed.

It whispered, “Anata ga aishita.”    

“You loved.”

From: http://n-rail.blogspot.com/2014/10/soyokaze-stories-incorporeal-reflection.html