A Few Needed Adjustments

Pecking at the Shell

Natsume felt pretty good that afternoon coming home from school. Even the crushing loneliness of isolation couldn't keep her from humming the tune of "Africa" as she walked home.

She actually pretty excited to finally get out of the house and stretch her legs. She should have been excited about seeing her long lost father, like most chick flick heroines, but she was just...unsure about that.

Sure, they met that week ago, but the whole conversation reeked of awkward tension.

Natsume wondered if today would have that too.

Speaking of Kyubi, she wondered what strings he was pulling to get her to go out and about, but she guessed she would have to brace herself when she opened the door to her house. She was pretty close to her house and she could already feel the magical energy. She took a deep breathe in as she rounded the corner brick wall.

Natsume stopped at the little stone path leading to her front door, where her mother and brother awaited her arrival. She took another deep breathe as she put one foot in front of the other and walked up to and in the door. The scene was the same as usual. Mom was in the kitchen taking out the trash while Keisuke was cornea deep into his history book. Nothing at all was out place.

Nothing in her general line of sight.

"Ay Mum."

"Hi sweetie, hold that thought." her mom replied as she swung open the back door.

"What's up bro."

"Heian Period."

"Eh, I remember doing that. Need any help?"

"Nah, I'm just. Bored."

"Yeah. Well, I'm going upstairs if you need me."

She got no reply as she quietly slicked up the steps. She was still uneasy for some reason. Everything didn't seem right. The spirit activity, her heritage, going up the mcfriggin steps.

Once her socks hit solid wood, her yo-senses began tingling. And it pointed to her room.

Why did all the mystical shit have to go in HER room? Was Keisuke's that messy?

She pushed that down as she pussyfooted across the hallway, imagining what prize was behind door number one.

Handling the knob like it was bomb, Natsume slowly turned it and pushed.

It wasn't a person, nor was it an object she was greeted by.

It was instead a yokai, about as large as a Saint Bernard with the body of a baby elephant.

Their body was a dark purple, with the area below the hips being a lavender. Sharp teeth glistened in their smiling mouth.

"Uhhhhhhh."

"Oh, yes, forgive Baku for the awkward silence. Ahem, Baku is Baku. Nice to meet you."

Balu moved their trunk in gesture similar to offering a handshake. Natsume shook it with her shaky palm.

"Umm, I'm assuming sent you?"

"Oh yes, Kyubi say he want me to emulate Natsume for the night."

"E-emulate?"

"Yes, emulate. Baku show you."

In a cloud of smoke, the elephant like yokai changed from their form into a bipedal one. One that looked exactly like Natsume, down to even the small scar above her eyebrow where she fell off her bed at eight.

A shiver went down her spine as she looked. It was like looking into a mirror, but the image was tangible.

"That's...creepy."