In This Together ▷ Stilinski

Chapter 37. The Nogitsune

My hands were busying themselves with applying my usual amount of make-up; my eyeliner, mascara, concealer, and foundation. They weren't shaking. I wasn't scared or sad or angry.

I was numb.

Completely and utterly numb.

Stiles is gone. He left the hospital last night without leaving a single trace. The woman in the elevator, turned out to be Kira's mother, Noshiko Yukimura. I put it together after I crawled out of the elevator and watched with blurred vision as she led Kira out of the hospital, at the same time that Isaac was being wheeled in on a gurney.

To be honest, I have no idea what to think about what Noshiko had told me in the elevator or the exchange she had with Stiles, hell or the fact that I threw up a damn firefly. I have an Oni somewhere inside of me, waiting to be released whenever she wills it to be. How that is possible, is beyond me. How can a group of fireflies manage to hold a Japanese Spirit inside of me?

I let out a sigh and twisted the cap of my mascara back on before dropping it into the small purple bucket where my make-up is stored. I didn't have the desire to attempt to look decent for school, I almost wore a pair of sweatpants and called it a day... but I can't do that. I can't just give up, whether it be on my appearance or my attitude. I need to remain strong.

So, instead of wearing pajamas to school I put on a pair of black skinny jeans with one of Stiles' red checkered flannels that I had stolen and slipped on my Vans, my converse were still muddy from the other night in the woods.

I slid my arms through the straps of my backpack and walked out of my room, taking the stairs cautiously. I could hear my mom and Scott conversing in the kitchen...

"Is she... is she herself?" my mom whispered, trying to keep her voice as low as possible so I couldn't here her.

My teeth captured my bottom lip and I shook my head from side to side in annoyance. I knew that I shouldn't have told Scott about Noshiko. I knew that as soon as I did he would tell mom and it would cause this whole big fuss about how there is something wrong with me. I mean, I guess in retrospect it's good that he knows I could become an Oni at any given moment, but him and mom smothering me... I just can't handle that right now.

Scott sighed, "I don't know. I think so... I hope so."

"Okay," I stated as I walked into the kitchen, letting my presence be known. My mom glanced up from her mug of coffee, "has there been any news?"

"Nothing new. They're still looking for him. It's past the 48-hour mark, but I guess if anyone's going to be missing for two days and turn up just fine, it's Stiles." she said with a hopeful tone.

Scott nodded, "What about Isaac?"

"Maybe we should go by the hospital, before school?" she suggested.

The thought of going back to the hospital gave me chest pains. I don't have PTSD or anything, but the last time I was there... I was cornered in an elevator and told that I had a Japanese spirit inside of me while I watched my possessed boyfriend walk down the hall and disappear.

I swallowed nervously, "I.. uh, I can't. I have a test first period and I can't risk being late."

Scott and my mom looked at each other before nodding in unison. Obviously my discomfort was rolling off of me in waves, if Scott, a.k.a Mister Oblivious, could pick up on it then it had to be pretty bad.

"We can drop you off at the school before, is that okay?" my mom inquired as she gently placed the cup in the sink.

"Yeah, that's perfect actually." I mumbled before walking out of the house. I didn't miss Scott grabbing my mom's arm and whispering something to her before they left the house.