The Demon In Me

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Surebu Village

"Allow me to help you with that!" Kotori climbed on the chair and dusted the filth.

"Oh my! Aren't a lovely lady, thank you for helping an old hag such as myself." The woman chuckled and prepared warm tea in a black kettle. She sat down on the mat and causally drank the tea from the small cup." Child, why don't you come and take a break."

She stepped down and found a space on the floor covered in dirt with a mat underneath her bottom. She sipped from the cup and her tastebuds danced in her mouth. Its fragrance was very strong and there was a hint of sweetness. There were a few roses peddles that floated." Ma'am, this is amazing! I never had anything like this before."

"I am very grateful for your help and this is the least that I can. There aren't many youngsters around that are full of energy and the ones that are beautiful like you, are married with many children. Is there a young lad you interesting in?"

" Mhm... I don't think so." She answered with instantly a image of him popped in her head again." We're just friends and he's already a two timer."

The older woman took another slip of her tea." Those are the worst! The type of man that is unable to make up their mind. Haha! But you know, what they say, third time the charms."

"Nobody says that, ma'am." Kotori laughed, softly and this feeling made her question if this is what it feels like to have a grandmother. She wondered about her own family.

' Do I have any relatives still alive?' She asked oneself.

" Grandma! Grandma!" four little children ran through the entrance and the curtain flew up. They notice a unfamiliar face and their was a sparkle in the kids eyes at they looked at Kotori. "So pretty."

" Why at you here?" the little boy questioned.

" To help families like yours." Kotori says cheerfully, as she kneel down to the boy's heights.

"That's not what big brother means." A young child interrupted.

" Well, why don't you tell me what he means then." She suggested and found the children's reaction adorable.

" Please say my grandchildren no attention, they are just noisy." The older woman said and shooed them away." Go on and play."

The kids ran outside and played with the other children.

"Where are your friends? They are probably worried about you." The woman asked as she unfolded the ingredients from the leave of herbs, vegetables, and certain salted meats." But it would be nice if you could stay for supper."

" My friend, the monk was invited by the headmaster to exterminate or exorcist a demon. The others are people walking around the village helping weak and shopping at the local stands looking at various merchandise—I think it would be fine to stay a little bit longer."

She offered her assistance, and everyone took a bath together, pouring buckets of warm water over their heads. After a several minutes, the children were in their pajamas. She ate stew with the family, her heart grew attached to them. It felt like home.

" I can't believe that they are fast asleep." Kotori picked up the empty bowels and washed them outside in a barrel that was filled with cold water as she scrubbed the silverware with an old cloth. She looked up and there fifteen young woman walking in a line with a rope tied to their hands. Her eyes widen and was puzzled by such an inhume treatment, a man used a whip and hit them to move faster.

" You should be careful about these parts." The old woman walked out the hut with her hands behind her. "Most of the woman are sold at a tender age to profit the village.