Michikosama

Episode 2: The Mask Is Off.

(Age 7):

Like promised Ruben visited me once a week, but the deal we made hadn't taken affect. I couldn't help but feel he had a reason to stall. Instead of giving me love he told me he'd give me friendship. I was okay with that, because I also didn't have friends. I'm glad he came into my life, and didn't make me feel alone. So, I trusted his words. Though, I did find it odd he knew everything about me, but I knew nothing about him. That made me curious.

"Are you hiding something?" I asked.

"Huh?"

"What I mean is...do you really look like that?"

"Like a human?" He asks, and I nod taking a seat next to him on my bed.

He caresses my hair, smiling. "I have taken this form to appeal to your eyes, making my presence comfortable as possible for you." I shook my head, trying to knock his hand down from stroking my hair. I wasn't a dog, and besides if we were going to be friends I wanted to see his true self.

"I want to see the real you."

"I don't want to scare you." He says with a worried look on his face.

I huffed. "I'm not scared of my friend." I showed my toothless grin.

He sighs, standing up. "Close your eyes, and when I say open, you open it. Got it?" I nod a yes to his question. I did as I was told, kicking my legs back and forth patiently as I waited for the key word. "Open" And, In command my eyes open, revealing the appearance that every one said he would look like. My eyes winded. Not from being scared, but from surprise. I jumped off my bed walking towards him, but he backs up for some apparent reason.

"Aren't you scared?" His voice had uncertainty in it. I reassured him with a smile, and took a bold action by holding his face in my hands. I always wonder where the warmth came from on the night of my 5'th birthday, but all I felt was coldness. Maybe I imagined feeling warm.

"You're not scary." I say, and in one swift motion he pulls me into a hug, only to push me away like I was poison.

"Take that disgusted thing off." He points to the cross around my neck. I twirled it in between my index finger and thumb.

"T-the priest gave i-" I stop mid sentence seeing a burn mark in the shape of a cross branded on his chest. "I'm sorry." I yanked the necklace off of me, tossing it on the bed.

"It's okay." He forced a smile, and it makes me feel worst.

"I forgot anything holy hurts you."

"I'm fine." He pats my head. "I'll get you another necklace."

"Really?!" I asked excited.

He smiles. "Anything for you." He kissed my forehead. I have gotten use to the burning sensation that came afterward. So, I just smiled back at him. "I have to go now."

I frowned at his statement. Even though he spends more time with me than my own father, I still feel the same way when my father leaves me , alone and unloved. "You always have to go..." I crossed my arms.

"I'm sorry, but it's important." He bends down to get a better look at my face, but I turn away from him.

"I'll see you next week?" My statement sounded more as a question filled with uncertainty, which is silly because he always visited me once a week

"I will." He stands up, sighing. "You're too pretty to be upset."

I frowned, looking up at him to see him smiling. He's always smiling. Why does he always smile? It sometimes annoys me, because I don't have something worth smiling about. "I'm not mad. Now, go go go to your important thingy ma-jig." I pushed him into the black hole opening.

"Are you sure you okay?" He turns around to ask.

"The faster you go the faster I can get my new necklace." I winked at him, and he smiles.

"I'll be back on Monday." He says.

"Okay." I waved goodbye, watching him walk into the black pit of unknown, and then the wave of sadness washes over me again. Dad hasn't been back since he left just morning, Ruben only stay for an hour or two, and now it's just me. It's always just me. Was this the reason I was born? To be alone?