Chiyoko: The 1 000 Generations Child

Chapter 12: New Picture Frames

"Welcome, Father? Or is it Mother?" Azami said as she opened the door and stared at the female Reverend.

"It's Reverend Sei. We spoke on the phone."

"My, my, times have really changed, now have they?"

Reverend Sei's expression turned cold. "I don't see how gender should get in the way of equality."

"What matters to me is if you're competent or not."

"Don't worry about that. You having received my number should already be enough proof of my competence.

Now tell me all you know."

🔹꒰ঌ😈໒꒱🔹

On his way home, Kenji made a detour. He walked up the bridge illuminated by the soft yellow light of street lanterns.

He sighed relieved as he leaned on the side of the bridge and stared at the swaying cherry trees.

A smile crossed his lips as Chiyoko poofed on the street lantern above him.

"Whoever you are, thank you," Kenji said. "I know you're there. I've felt your presence the day my life became better and I'm feeling your presence right now.

I know you've helped me ace Yoshito-sama's test. I know I owe it to you that he hired me on the spot.

I know you were there when I had a rough time on this bridge and I know you sneaked in the bag to save my life.

I know you've been helping me in more ways than I realize and you've saved me, in more ways than you can imagine."

Tears fell on the ground near the street lantern.

What is this feeling?

Kenji continued: "You being here, you believing in me when I can't even believe in myself..."

Kenji squeezed his fists as tears rolled over his cheeks.

"Thank you, guardian angel. Thank you.

You believe in me and I won't let you down."

Kenji dried his cheeks and sniffed deeply. He flung the bag over his shoulder and looked at the moon.

"Let's go home."

🔹꒰ঌ😈໒꒱🔹

Reverend Sei examined the picture frame with Megumi's photograph.

"So the spirit looked like her?"

"The spirit was her," Azami said.

"How can you be sure?"

"She looked exactly like her."

Reverend Sei pulled up her eyebrow as she gazed over her glasses at Azami.

Azami continued: "And... Euhm... She visited her son in his bedroom. I saw her caress his hair while he was asleep."

"Show me where it happened."

Azami guided the Reverend to Kenji's bedroom.

"She stood there at the window, pulled the towel on the floor and then knelt next to the pig while he was sleeping over there.

If you don't mind I'll stay in the hallway. I can't stand this pig stall."

Reverend Sei navigated through the chaos to the towel. She took out a pen and picked up the towel with it.

She sniffed it thoroughly. A hint of jasmine at the corner of the towel caught her attention.

She sniffed more viciously.

"Does the son have a relationship?"

"That pig? He couldn't even get lucky with an inflatable doll."

"Has he had any female visitors?"

"Not even male ones..."

"There's a hint of jasmine on this towel. Could it have gotten here any other way?"

"That thing had been hanging there untouched for more than a year before Megumi ripped it off."

"Are you absolutely sure?"

Azami nodded.

A grin crossed the Reverend's lips.

It's the scent she leaves at all her scenes of haunting...

I finally got you, 1 000 problems child.

🔹꒰ঌ😈໒꒱🔹

When Kenji got back at the Fuyu residence, Reverend Sei walked out.

"Why do you need a priest, Fuyu Azami-dono? Is there something I should know?"

"Oh, don't worry, Kenji-chan. I'm still as fit as a fiddle. I just made a new friend, that's all."

Too bad, Kenji thought, I had some hope just there.

He placed the bag on the table and stretched his arms.

"I know you've been cooking extra and had hoped to have dinner together, but I'm afraid I have to excuse myself.

I'm going to bed." Kenji looked at his watch. "If I'm lucky I can have about 2 hours of sleep..."

"Suit yourself, sweetie."

A shiver ran through Kenji's spine. Sweetie.

He retreated to his room, grabbed some candy, popped it in his mouth, let himself fall on his futon and started snoring.

In the meantime Azami danced towards the table.

The Reverend had told her to replace the picture frames and the spirit won't longer target her.

Azami shook her bootie and sang: "New picture frames, new picture frames and the ghost is gone, new picture frames, new picture frames and the ghost is gone."

She opened the bag and looked inside.

The glass of the frames had been shattered and the wood was beyond repair.

"KENJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"

🔹꒰ঌ😈໒꒱🔹

Birds flew up in fright as the Reverend posted across the street of the Fuyu residence.

Reverend Sei took out her phone.

"Hey, love, it's me. I've got a lead so I won't come home soon. Could you send over some clothes and the usual stuff? I'll text you the address.

I think I might have found her."