Infected

Chapter 32: Jikan

               Mizu stood in the middle of what used to be her village, waiting. Yoki stood across from her waiting, but she could feel the beast's unease.

"Are you sure?" Yoki asked, keeping his voice low. "You can still change your mind."

She smiled at her friend and her eyes softened. Taking a deep breath, she hardened her resolve. "I'm sure."

He didn't question her anymore, and they continued to wait in the spot they'd made the contract many years ago. If she moved from the spot, then she would break the jutsu that Yoki and Uta had worked on together and Jikan would not come. The moment she moved; she would lose. Uta was pacing near the trees at the edge of the clearing. Mizu calmed her breathing and continued to wait. What was a few more hours? A heavy aura filled the clearing and Mizu felt bloodlust around her. Sweat dripped down her face, but she held her position. Eventually the bloodlust disappeared.

"Hmmm, you didn't run. Do I take it you have some business with me, Yoki or perhaps Uta?" The voice was high pitched and childlike. Mizu was tempted to turn toward it, but held her ground. If she moved, then Jikan would disappear.

Yoki spoke, clearly and calmly, "It's been a while, Jikan. How have you been?"

A child like laughter echoed around them. "Same old, same old. Watching the world's creatures live and die. Same old. But surely you didn't time your visit here just to ask me how I've been? Is this about your mission with that diseased demon?"

"I've completed that mission, but yes, I timed my visit to meet up with you for a reason." Yoki kept his eyes locked with Mizu's.

"You've finished it already! That was fast." The voice was filling Mizu's mind. She felt dizzy, but didn't move.

Yoki didn't move, but Mizu could see the concern in his eyes. "As always, your since of time is rather acute. It's been seven hundred years since I started hunting Shikkan."

"Has it really? Well, what's a few hundred years to me? So, what is your business with me?"

Mizu noticed Uta had stopped pacing and was staring at something behind her. Her hands shook, but she refused to turn. Yoki kept his eyes locked on her.

"There is a child who has served me well..." Yoki's tail was stiff at his side. "I've come today to request that you give back the time she had to relinquish to preform her duties."

The bloodlust from before flooded the area and Mizu almost collapsed from the pressure.

"You." The childish voice disappeared and replaced with a deep malice. "You dare to come ask me to return time already paid? Know your place, you lower spirit."

An intense pressure slammed down on the area where they stood and Mizu's legs buckled, but she stayed upright. The fear and uncomfortable look on Yoki's face told her he was also under attack.

"Uta, do you also come to ask for this ridiculous request of me?"

Uta's back was arched as he also fought against the unseen pressure of time. Still, he looked to whatever was behind Mizu, his face set and responded, "Yes."

"How dare you! How dare you ask this of me! Time once paid cannot be given back, yet you would ask me to break a fundamental rule of time."

A wave of ringing filled her ears, and the ground beneath her feet seemed to turn into mud.

"And for what? A being with a fleeting life and fleeting ideals."