Yao's Curse [Nichu]

Sweet Irony

( Yao's point of view)

     From that point on, I've been receiving countless visits from Kiku. Each time, he would ask a question related to the Jiangshi and how it felt to become one for a day. Er, at night time I mean. It was like a huge weight being released from my chest. In other words, it was a big relief to have someone to speak to about this hidden subject of mine.

     For many years, I've been hiding it from him and everyone else I know. It was only reasonable for him to hear how I managed to keep the secret hidden for so long. His face didn't express much, but caring for him for thousands of years lead me to believe that on the inside, he does have emotions.

     It was all good and dandy for the next two hundred years, even though there was no process in ideas on how to break my pitiful curse. Aiyaa, and Kiku one day left and haven't come back during the passing of time...Perhaps he's too busy with his own situations.

     One evening, my eyes gazed at the calendar as I cooked dinner for myself, even though it looked like too much food for one person.

"...it's that time again aru..." I whispered.

     However, my plan this year was to eat as much as possible, so at night my Jiangshi self won't need to feast due to an already full stomach. I dearly hope it works though, these days there are people still outside despite it being night time.

     Soon the table was filled with plates of freshly cooked meals. All of it can fit on the black hole that is my stomach when it comes to food. So afterwards, I sat down and took out my chopsticks, before hearing a soft knock on the door. Wondering who it was at this hour, I shot a quick glance at the window to see if the sun was about to set or not, and it wasn't. There was enough time to see who the visitor was, letting me stand up and answer the door.

     Bewildered by who was in front of me, I let out the biggest smile my lips could make.

"Kiku!! It's been awhile! Why don't you come in? I just finished dinner aru"

"..."

     I was so excited, that his current uniform didn't catch my attention until now, along with two swords dangling around his waist. The wind blew across our hair, letting it flow in front of our faces, which presented distinct expressions. Mine once had a smile, but now it is a fake smile to keep my mood as high as it was. Kiku's, however, showed nothing but despair in his dark brown eyes.

"Kiku...what's wrong aru?"

"..."

"...whatever it was, please, come in. Eating will solve all your problems aru!"

     I kept smiling to him, but he hasn't done or said anything. As if he was waiting patiently for something else to happen. My eyes then switched their gaze over to the horizon, where the sun was getting ready to call it a day. I clenched my teeth and dropped a sweat, it will be time soon, for the Jiangshi.

     We stood there silently for a couple minutes, Kiku probably doesn't know what day is today, it has to be the reason he hasn't backed away from me yet.

"...Say something a--" I gasped.

     It happened, as the sun began to set, my body was engulfed in darkness. Completely different to what happens in a sunrise. Despite the scene happening right in front of the Japanese male, he only watched instead of turning around and run.

    As soon as the transformation finished, my now pale and stiff body dropped to the ground like a rag doll being dropped from the hands of a child. I stared down at my claws, then up at my brother in fear. In fear to hurt him. Because I couldn't finish my plan, I couldn't finish chowing down on that huge meal.

     Kiku's eyes stared at me as well, making eye contact, until he set hands on one of his swords.

"Forgive me...China-san..." he muttered, as if he wasn't speaking to me at all, and withdrew a sharpened peach sword.

"Kiku...w-what are you, why do you ha-- GYAAAAH!!!"
   
     Without even realizing it, after my ear-deafening cry, a heavy sting creeped down my entire back in a matter of milliseconds. Kiku sliced it open without a sweat, Kiku, who I raised to be strong and robust, who I taught everything I knew about martial arts and sword fight, who one time promised to be by my side and cure my curse...who used to be my only sunshine in this sad immortal life.

     He then stepped back, and walked away without another word. Leaving a bloody and crippling Jiangshi behind to wither away. With a trail of cold tears, my body laid here in an indescribable pain both inside and out. Something only a living person can feel. Because corpses are, well, dead. They can't feel anything anymore, and that's how I was each time I became a Jiangshi.

     Truth be told, I do feel alive, because I can feel that pain all over my supposedly dead body. Oh the irony of things...