Chiyoko: The 1 000 Generations Child

Chapter 9: Salty

On his way home Kenji had picked up some white lilies, two simple yet elegant picture frames and the requested 10 kilos of salt.

He dragged the bag of salt over the pavement as he clenched the lilies between his teeth. The picture frames stuck out of his back pocket and glistened in the neon shop lights.

Chiyoko, Ruri and Yusei followed him in the crowd of passer-bys rushing to the nearest shops and restaurants.

Ruri hopped playfully. Her space buns flew in the air as she cheered whenever a new messenger popped up with a letter for Yusei.

Yusei smirked as he counted the markings in his notebook. "And that phone call you made to him brings the total to 46 acts of kindness within 24 hours. Good job, Kizuna Chiyoko."

Chiyoko drooped her shoulders. "Why does everything backfire when it's with," she gesticulated at Kenji as she spoke, "him?!"

She pulled at her cheeks. "Aaaaaaarrggghhh! Is he blessed or something? It's not normal all the luck he has!"

Yusei checked the file he kept on Kenji in his notebook. "I wouldn't call him lucky with his history, but it does seem he's immune to your schemes."

Ruri glanced at the contents of Yusei's notebook. "Perhaps he's your neutraliser, Chiyoko-chan?"

"Neutraliser?"

"Yeah," Ruri drew in the air as she spoke, "just like Life is the neutraliser of Death, Night is that of Day and Ying neutralises Yang.

In order to maintain harmony every energy is balanced out with another one.

He seems to undo your misschief... "

Ruri looked up at the sky as she put her fingers to her lips. "So maybe he neutralises you?"

"I'll neutralise him," Chiyoko grumbled. She clenched her fist as she stormed off.

Unaware of what had happened, Ruri continued: "I think humans call them soulmates, right Yusei-kun?"

Yusei hummed.

Ruri looked around her.

"Chiyoko-chan? Where are you going?"

🔹꒰ঌ😈໒꒱🔹

Azami stood in front of the Fuyu residence and talked to an elderly neighbour with brushy mustache as Kenji dragged the bag of salt around the corner.

The man went to his shed and walked out with a ladder under his arms.

"You say a sudden gust of wind moved your tiles? Let me have a look," the man spoke as he climbed the ladder.

His head peeped over the gutter as Chiyoko, Ruri and Yusei poofed on the roof.

The man stammered, his body shook, his feet missed the step and he slid down the ladder. His body still shaking, he turned around.

"Y-y-you n-n-need a-a p-priest o-or w-witch doc-ctor."

Azami turned white. "What did you see?"

The old man didn't hear Azami. He left his ladder behind and walked away all shook up.

Kenji came to a halt watching the scene. Sweat fell on the pavement as he leaned on the bag of salt.

"What happened to him?" Kenji asked. "He looks like he has seen a ghost."

Azami smiled sheepishly. "The old silly is just afraid of heights, but forgot."

"Shall I have a look at the roof? If it's just a few tiles I might be able to repair it."

Azami glanced at the roof.

Chiyoko peeped over the edge, her eyes burned with rage, her hair tied in an up-do to tackle the Kenji problem.

Azami held in a shriek.

"Don't bother, Kenji-chan. I'll just hire a professional. We don't want you to have to work after such a long day. You need to rest, relax and recover."

Kenji sighed. "You're right, Kuyu Azami-dono. Today was exhausting..."

He let himself fall on the bag of salt.

CRACK.

"The picture frames!"