The Cursed Iris

Learning the Truth

The sun was sinking below the horizon, turning the sky a dark shade of orange. The air was brisk as the full force of winter began to grasp the town.

Ayame, Atsuko, Shiro, and Natsumi all walked past a park, which brought back many memories from their childhood. It caused a wave of nostalgia to wash over them. They then all looked at Ayame, whose expression seemed distant, "What's wrong Akiyama?" Shiro asked her.

"It's nothing."

"You're lying," Atsuko and Natsumi replied in unison.

Ayame got nervous because she felt like she was getting attacked by them.

"It's nothing, like I said Atsuko," she retorted.

"Guys get off her case please," Shiro said as he adjusted his glasses.

Natsumi nodded, "Yes sir," she wiped drool from her mouth.

Atsuko groaned in irritation. "Damn, you're annoying."

Ayame stared at them as they began to argue, and for some reason she had a feeling that these times were going to be over soon. Almost like she was about to find out the truth of something. Maybe what they've been hiding from her. Have they been hiding anything from her in the first place? A tear ran down her cheek and they got scared.

"See, I knew something was wrong with you!" Atsuko yelled at Ayame.

"I- I- I told you that nothing was wrong," she said as her voice cracked. "I'm fine."

She began to cry more, and Shiro sighed. "Atsuko why did you yell at her?"

"I did nothing wrong. I just said something was wrong with her."

"And she said nothing was."

Natsumi hugged Ayame, "It'll be okay Ayame. Just tell us what's on your mind."

"It's just, just, I've been having a feeling that the end of these times will arrive soon. I don't know why, but I don't want it to end. Then there's the fact that I think you all have been hiding things from me. So please tell me what you're hiding."

They all looked at each other with worried expressions, "Ayame listen, there is something we're hiding from you, but please understand we're doing this for your own good. We don't want to lose you either," Natsumi said with sincerity.

"But why are you hiding things from me? When we were younger, you all promised me that you wouldn't hide anything from me, so why? Please tell me why."

They noticed that she was getting panicked, "You're all just liars," Ayame stated to them.

"I'm sorry Ayame," Atsuko replied to her.

"Don't apologize to her, just tell her the truth Atsuko," another voice said.

They all were shocked to see that Kikyo took over Ayame's body. Atsuko got nervous as Kikyo started walking towards her, "Listen Kikyo I can explain," she said.

"Like I said, enough excuses. Tell her the truth Atsuko, or I will."

"We were going to tell her tonight after the dinner. I'm going to make sure to hide nothing."

"Ayame is definitely getting frantic, and her birthday is next week as well. If they send her off without telling her anything, then she and I would both die."

"You're right, but I've made up my mind. I am going with Ayame."

"With both of us going, then she would be fine," Kikyo reassured, but her statement didn't seem to be sure. Almost as if she didn't believe herself.