The White Dweller

A Promise Made

A Promise Made

‘No… I had nothing to do with it!

Oh, you need not deny it, love. I speak the truth; I know the sin that you committed that day, but does it matter? After all, you were just defending yourself, were you not?

Out of nowhere, a white hand shot out—a little whiter than Setsuko’s, and definitely more see-through—and grabbed Setsuko’s little chin, yanking it up for her to be able to face… nothing.

Setsuko was aware that she was crying because of the wetness of her cheeks, but she hadn’t really known that she was doing it. Why?

And yet, she could feel so many emotions swimming inside her, clawing at her rapidly-beating heart.

‘I didn’t… I didn’t kill them!’

Then who did, darling? The woman’s voice—originally gentle and mocking, suddenly transitioned into a tone of mild annoyance and anger, as if wanting Setsuko to prove something to her. What? Who could have possibly killed them? There was no one in that mountain, love! Who else could have killed them but you? No one else could have possibly had the power of a Yuki-onna at the time. Why deny it? It is not as though it will affect you. They’re dead after all, and what’s more? Those dead men kidnapped you; took you away from the hands of your parents! Why stand up for them? Or is this all a mundane method of protecting your pride as a selfish child?

The fingers holding on to Setsuko’s chin tightened their hold until their fingernails gradually dug into her skin; her unscathed and perfectly smooth skin.

Well? Is it?

‘I wasn’t aware of the things I did! If I really killed them… why wasn’t I aware of it?’

It was silent for a while, but the hand’s fingernails still had a deadly hold on her chin.

Why not find out for yourself, dear child? After all, you are a clever one, are you not? Prove yourself worthy of me; prove that you are a worthy vessel!

Before Setsuko could even comprehend the voice’s words, a flash of dark, angrily glowing blue hit her full in the face.

Waking up with a start, Setsuko couldn’t deny the sudden tingle of her spine, causing her body to jump.

She was still startled from the dream she just had. How… who was that? Who was that woman? Why was she so bent on making her believe that she was the one who killed those rogues before she was found by Team Minato? Setsuko knew she didn’t. How could she, a mere ten year-old murder a man? Much less a whole group of them! Those accusations were absurd? And how could she even freeze them like that? Of course, she knew that she had the powers of a Yuki-onna but she’d never ever used them for the same reason that she wasn’t even taught how to use them… and how she would never even want to use her powers to murder.

Not to mention she was completely knocked out during the time that the men died. She was sure of that.

Caught up in her thoughts, Setsuko hadn’t realized that the door to the room she slept in opened quietly.

“Setsuko-chan?”

Flinching, Setsuko swallowed as her eyes shot towards the direction of the door. Kushina’s head poked inside, and her eyes looked very concerned. That was also the only time Setsuko had realized that it was most probably close to noon. The sun was peeking through a rather scarce amount of clouds, brightening up the already clear blue sky.