𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 (𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐥). | 𝙎. 𝙂𝙤𝙟𝙤

8. the face of love's rage

Mission report: September 17th, 2007

XX Prefecture, XX City, Formerly X Village

Mission summary: Cursed spirit kidnapping and abnormal deaths within the Village. The assigned Jujutsu Shaman is to conduct a more detailed on-site investigation. Once found, the grade 1 Curse thought to be responsible for the incidents is to be exorcised.

"So this why you called me?" I ask, opening the familiar pale yellow folder Yaga handled in my hands as soon as I sat down.

"Correct."

Soft autumn wind blows from the open window in his bland office, letting in the earthy smell of autumn. Sitting in the old leather chair, I skim over the mission details once again; the name of the village, the reports of all the curse sightings. There were ten recorded deaths in the past month, and three more missing. All in total – over 118 deaths in the past 20 years.

I hear Yaga sigh.

"To be honest, I wanted to send both you and Satoru together for this one but... he's already been assigned to another mission yesterday, and the Higher Ups demand immediate action." He scratches his eyebrow, a frown marring his tired expression. "I know it's far out, but it shouldn't be too long. If you don't want to take it then – "

"I'll do it," I interrupt, closing the folder.

It wasn't like there is anyone else who could go anymore in my stead.

He knows it. I know it.

Yaga looks at me for a long moment, a mournful, weary look setting across his face - the same look that he had at Haibara's wake, and at Shoko's infirmary once Satoru and I returned from the Tomb of the Star.

I knew that look well.

If the sun from the open window would hit him just right, I could venture to call it regret.

"I know it's still early. Haibara's funeral was only a few days ago." He says. "When you come back, let's-"

"Is it okay if I go today?"

He blinks at me again, once, then twice, studying my expressionless face. There isn't any fight to begin with between him and I, therefore no loss to mourn, yet Yaga's shoulders sag in defeat. Like he had lost something for good. I was too drained to lie and try to convince him otherwise.

"Sure. Okay. Just keep in touch."

Giving him a quiet nod, I place the folder back onto his desk, turning around to take my leave.

There wasn't any particular reason to go right away, no.

I was just sick of the morgue in my bedroom.

"One more thing," I'm turned halfway around when Yaga says, stopping me in tracks. 

I glance at him over my shoulder. "Yes?"

"I know how stressful was the whole Star Plasma Vessel mission for you," he begins again, awkwardly solemn in all the wrong places. "But you don't need to worry about it anymore. They've already found another Vessel, so Master Tengen is stable again."

I, Riko, am the Master Tengen and Master Tengen is me! This is what I was born for!

Something in my chest clenches, but my expression doesn't change. Standing one foot in and one foot out of the office, into the dark, it takes me a handful of seconds to speak without any particular inflection.

"I see," is all I can say, before I turn around and leave the office.

---

This is a really remote village, hidden all the way in the woods, so I can't reach it with a car. Misato Shokinji, the assistant manager, says. Oh well. It's alright if I drop you here, yeah? There's no reason for me to go with you all the way to the village.