LOGIN“I did see a ghost.” Ichigo’s eyes widen. “Um, Ichigo, you’re freaking me out…” he sits back into his chair. “What’s wrong?” she says ominously. Her eyes start glowing slightly, but it disappears. “Well, calm down Ichigo, we’ll find a solution to this problem. At least now we know that she’s using the horror path.” Ichigo closes her eyes, breathing heavily. Mike sighs. “I think I should give her what she wants. I’m moving.” She opens her eyes. “That’s your choice.” They both stand up. She looks at him for a second longer before they walk out of the library. It was a silent walk back to the dormitory building. After walking across the field and getting wet leaves inside their shoes, they arrive at the building. “I’ll help you move.” Mike puts his hand on her shoulder. “No, I’ll face the music myself.” She walks forward without him. Mike walks after her. “Well, I also live here, so, can I at least keep you company? I know dorm rooms have two beds.” He says boldly. She looks at him as if he’s insane, but she nods anyway. “Just wait here.” She goes up the winding stairs to her old dormitory room on the fourth floor. ‘I guess it’s time to say goodbye to my home for the last year.’ She turns the doorknob. Monica opens the door and smiles down at her, since she’s almost six feet. She seems to be in a good mood. “Why are you moving Ichigo?” Peter stands up from reading his book. Ichigo looks on the top of her own bed, where her clothes and other tabletop things are placed neatly in a wooden box. “Well, I’m just moving, that’s all. Why are you making a big problem about it now anyway?” she walks towards the box. ‘Thank God it has handles.’ She holds the handles. “I packed it for you!” Monica announces happily, sitting down on the same bed. “Do you hate me?” Peter walks towards her. “Oh yeah, what do you think?” she asks. “It’s not like I’ve done anything to you, Ichigo!” he says, half shouting. “Exactly, you’ve done nothing for me these past days. You ignored me utterly.” She refuses to look at him. “Just be patient. I’m working it out with Monica, and I will spend time with you in summer!” he says. “Well, it seems that in exchange for that Monica of yours you chose to ignore your best friend.” She rolls her eyes hard. “Couldn’t you just be happy for us?” he puts his hands on her shoulders, though she’s still looking away. “Oh I am Peter, but if you don’t keep your shit together, you can’t even touch me.” She huffed. “But I thought you were my best friend!” Peter says. “Exactly, and I thought you were my best friend!” she grabs the box as she runs out of the room. She runs out of the room crying tears she thought she never had. Before she knew it, she’s reached the ground floor. “Hey, you look sad.” Mike slowly creeps up to her. “What do you think asshole? Now get over here and help my ass!” she shoves the box to him. “Hey! We could go get beef noodles from the noodle shop just across the street! It’ll be my treat.” He says accompanied by a goofy grin. Ichigo nods in agreement. They enter the spare bedroom. “Are you sure you want to sleep here? There are like, bloodstains on the other bed.” She sits down on her bed. “Whoa! Cool, you have bloodstains? Where did that come from?” He asks. “I’ll tell you everything I know once you give me those beef noodles you promised. Mike Sorensen.” She punches him on the shoulder. “Oh you can release your stress on me anytime.” He laughs. He puts the box on the floor next to Ichigo’s bed. “Let’s go then.” He wraps his arm around her shoulder as they walk out of the room. She takes one look at the window and she sees the ravens, again. ‘I’m sure Mike hasn’t noticed that I’m bad luck.’ They continue to walk down the hall to the lobby. “I trust Ichigo will be okay under your care, Mike.” Mr. Rustico spoke up. “Of course Mr. Rustico, I’ll take good care of her.” He smiles. “Hey, I can take care of myself!” she says in an irritated voice. “I didn’t say you can’t.” he tightens his grip on her, pulling her closer. They walk out of the building to the open field. The sun is almost setting. “Do you want to walk down the great pier?” he asks. “This world is full of death huh?” she asks. “Yeah, the great war between Thermokrii and Panlere seem to be distant memories. And great generals fought on those wars.” They walk out of the gate. “Do you think this world will ever find peace?” she asks. “We are at peace, it’s just that it’s fragile peace.” They walk across the street to the noodle shop.
"Well the noodle shop seems to be peaceful." Ichigo pouts. "Let's just eat." They both sit down on the fairly tall wooden stools on the noodle shop. "Beef noodles for her, and chicken noodles for me." He places his order. He pays one hundred thirty five Chokrins to the noodle maker, who gets to their noodles. "Why won't Peter see through Monica at all?" she asks. "Well, remember the path of horror? Its first sub-path is submission." He says. "No, that wouldn't make any sense. I think Peter is acting on his own accord." She closes her eyes. The cook hands them over their bowls. Mike immediately eats his chicken noodles, but Ichigo closes her eyes to pray to the God of the Moon. "Why do you bother praying?" he asks, eating his food with his fork. "You wouldn't understand." She takes the chopsticks to eat. "Just like how I think using your fork to eat these noodles is disgusting." They continue to eat in silence. "Hey," Mike puts his hand on her shoulder. "You finished?" he asks. "You
“I did see a ghost.” Ichigo’s eyes widen. “Um, Ichigo, you’re freaking me out…” he sits back into his chair. “What’s wrong?” she says ominously. Her eyes start glowing slightly, but it disappears. “Well, calm down Ichigo, we’ll find a solution to this problem. At least now we know that she’s using the horror path.” Ichigo closes her eyes, breathing heavily. Mike sighs. “I think I should give her what she wants. I’m moving.” She opens her eyes. “That’s your choice.” They both stand up. She looks at him for a second longer before they walk out of the library. It was a silent walk back to the dormitory building. After walking across the field and getting wet leaves inside their shoes, they arrive at the building. “I’ll help you move.” Mike puts his hand on her shoulder. “No, I’ll face the music myself.” She walks forward without hi
“No. Father, what do you mean?” she asks, feeling confused. “Just do it Ichigo.” He says before the Yamanaka walled village completely disappears from her vision. “That was weird.” She whispers to herself as she opens her eyes. It seems that she’s back in the examination room. Monica’s eyes twitch as she looks away, but Ichigo doesn’t seem to notice. “Hey Ichigo, you okay? You seemed to be spacing out for a second back there.” Mike whispers to her. “No, I’m okay. There is just something I really need to do.” She says, closing her eyes briefly. “Do you still want to know about the special abilities from the Gods?” he asks. She nods. “Then we’ll be discussing it in the far corners of the public library.” He smiles at her with a thumbs up. ‘There is really no stopping Mike is there?’ she thinks to herself. Before they knew it the examinations are finished. As sh
The sun rises, shining down on to the great city of Ishapolis, also on Ichigo’s window. She rubs her eyes, like every morning she does. She sits up on the bed, looking out the window. There, once again there is a conspiracy of ravens outside. She smiles to herself, like the ravens are looking after her. It’s nice to think about. She stands up for a little stretch. ‘My father was right for calling me little. I mean, look at me! People would use the word petite to describe me.’ She shrugs slightly. After getting ready, she goes out to walk down the hallway. The hallway is white, so stains can be easily seen in it. Electric bulbs lined up on the wall as if they were still torches from the middle ages. She greets Mr. Rustico, which she is now accustomed to do now. She gets out of the dormitory building, to the green fields that seem to be always wet. After long months of morning rain, this wet dew-y grass always slobbering around her feet is starting to get on her nerves. ‘Well, it’s ti
“Daddy, I don’t want you to go.” Ichigo pouts. “Listen to me little Ichigo, you may be a daughter of the Yamanaka, but never forget what they have done to us. Never forget the pain, but move past it. The pain makes you stronger. Do not seek revenge, but keep it in your mind.” He says. “Yes daddy.” She replies. They hold each other in their arms for a long while before the sun starts to slowly set. “Well, this is it my daughter.” He says painfully. “Wait! What’s my mother’s name!” her father puts his arms around her as his body slowly turns into floating embers, floating away into the night sky. “Papa!” she cries. He wraps his arms around his daughter as, slowly but surely, he turns into floating embers. “I love you Ichi-go.” He says as he disappears, floating out into the sky’s abyss. His body and neck disappear, but his face still managed a smile. The ravens fly out from the
The sun shines down on her window. A new day has begun with a small breeze. She looks out of her window, seeing the trees with birds on their branches. Ichigo smiles as the birds happily chirp away. “Get up Ichigo!” Her mom yells from the living room. She immediately stands up. She walks out of her room to the living room. “Go get me a glass of water.” Her mother says in a commanding tone. Ichigo obeys her mother, like she always had. “She passes by her father in the kitchen, who simply smiles at her, though she could see a hint of sadness in his smile. She gets the glass of water to give to her mom. She takes a sip. “Look at your little brother. He has higher grades than you. He’ll be a proper man one day. Your father doesn’t even talk to you!” she says triumphantly. Ichigo doesn’t dare question her mother. She bows her head before she goes out of the house. She remembers the time her father would go in her room to give her iced cream from the local creamery. She would be very exit