The Demon [A JSHK Fanfiction]

Chapter 11

Izumi was wandering the halls absentmindedly. Her mind was filled with events from the past. While she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings, a boy appeared in front of her.

Izumi collided with him, the impact sent the boy falling. Izumi snapped out of her trance, catching the falling boy. She bowed down.

"I'm so, so sorry!" Izumi apologized as soon as the boy was standing. The boy chuckled at her, waving his hand dismissively.

"Oh, it's fine. Don't worry," he smiled at her, dismissing the recent events. "I'll see you around."

Izumi smiled back at the retreating figure of the male. But her eyes widen in realization. She was seen by another student. Her eyes narrowed before deciding to walk to the back of the school.

As Izumi walked out, she couldn't believe her eyes. The scene in front of her was something she had never seen.

Nene clung to the tree's branch as if her life depended on it, while two fish were down her.

"Oi! Get away from my friend!" Izumi shouted, grabbing their attention. She ran in front of Nene, standing protectively.

Nene's eyes lit up at the sound of Izumi's voice. She looked at her with wide fearful eyes. Izumi turned to her and smiled reassuringly, turning back to the fish.

"Why are you harassing my friend?" Izumi gave them a cold glare. The two fish started shaking, but from the looks of it, they won't back down. They ignored the demon for now, looking back at Nene.

"...Y-You, My Lady, are our princess," the fish with a mustache stuttered, still a bit shaken by the cold glare of the demon.

Nene's attention then went to them, thinking about the life as their princess. Izumi's glare hardened at them.

"You little piece of— you can't take Nene away from us," Izumi said, crouching down to look at them more clearly. Her expression darkened as she stared down at them menacingly, frightening the poor fish.

"If you take her, I'll fry you alive," Izumi threatened, making them back away from her, tears threatening to fall down.

"M-My Lady! C-Calm down! We can s-settle this another way!" The pufferfish freak out, hoping to convince the demon. The demon's menacing glare was still present. The pufferfish felt small against her.

"And how would that be?" She asked lowly, seemingly challenging the fish.

"Y-You could be with your friend, My Lady. A-After all, you do contain a piece of the flesh of our master, The Great Mermaid. Both you and your friend!" The pufferfish's voice was shaky, staring up at the demon. But Izumi's glare faltered a bit at the mention of this.

"How did you—?" Her question was cut off by Nene's screech and a loud thud behind her. She looked behind her in worry, seeing her friend on the ground wincing in pain. It appears that the branch she was holding on to collapsed.

Izumi ran to her friend, checking her for any serious injury. "Nene, are you all right? Does your head hurt?"

"I-I'm fine, Izumi-chan," Nene mumbled weakly, smiling gratefully at her friend. Izumi helped her up, supporting her. However, their small interaction was cut short by the pufferfish.

"My Ladies, this would be for your own benefits," it said, catching the two's attention.

"We've been watching you for the past few days," it started. Izumi's eyes narrowed at the fish, but she let the fish talk. "And that school mystery's treatment of you two is far too barbaric."

"But he never did anything to me," Izumi mumbled to herself, brows furrowing. She glanced at Nene who also glanced at her, the two having no idea what the fish was on to. Izumi caught the two fish shaking at their mental image of the ghost.

"He didn't accept the gift you had so thoughtfully prepared for him," the pufferfish said. Izumi's brow shot up, she looked at Nene quietly. "And behaved with such violence..."

"What?!" Izumi mumbled to Nene. Her expression was stern, but it was wiped away as soon as she saw the expression Nene wore.

"Th-That was..." she trailed off, unsure about her own answer. Izumi pulled the girl in a hug, comforting her.

"If it's all right, can you tell me the story later?" She softly asked. Nene nodded as she felt herself slowly relaxing. She felt secured in Izumi's arms.

"He never speaks a word about himself, and he takes advantage of you at every possible turn!" Izumi gently stroke her friend's hair, listening at the fish's rant.

"That vile offender thinks nothing about you, My Lady!" Izumi couldn't help but chuckle. As dramatic as the fish made it, Izumi knew it wasn't true. She saw how the ghost lighten up whenever Nene's with him.

'Just like when he was with her,' Izumi thought as her smile faltered. Here she go again, thinking about the past.

"And you, My Lady," the pufferfish called Izumi. She mentally sighed in relief, she didn't wish to be stuck in an emotional loop all over again. "By joining us, our master could free you from the bond you share with him!"

"Um, no thanks," Izumi declined, but the fish's next words got her silent.

"With the help from our master, she can help you cut ties with your family permanently. Just come with us," the demon stared at the fish in disbelief, unable to reply. Her arms fell from Nene's figure and onto her side, her mind was filled with different thoughts.

"Here, please accept this," the pufferfish handed Nene two fish-shaped necklaces. "This is the Great Mermaid's lifeblood."

"Please drink it without delay," Nene handed one to the silent Izumi. She took it in her hand. "And you will be formally bound to the Great Mermaid."

Izumi only managed to catch that they will be escorted tomorrow before they left. She looked at the necklace in her hands, clenching it tightly.

"I..." Izumi started, but no words were formed. Nene looked at her friend and smiled reassuringly.

"Let's visit Tsuchigomori-sensei."

———

Izumi sat at a couch, listening to the teacher and Nene's exchange of words. She was lost to her own thoughts, contemplating if she should agree or not.

It was true that she hated her family, enough for her to actually consider cutting their ties permanently. But the thought of leaving her newfound friends scared her.

Especially Tsuchigomori, he was the very first friend that she had made when this school was built. He was the one who helped her get through with her death.

"What's bothering you, Izumi?" She heard him ask. She looked up, seeing Tsuchigomori and Nene looking at her worriedly.

"I... I was thinking about the fish's offer," Izumi answered, looking at the necklace in her hand. "I'm tempted to accept."

"What is their offer?" Tsuchigomori asked softly. Izumi sighed, playing with the necklace.

"They offered that they could permanently cut my ties with my awful family," Izumi looked at them. "It's very hard to say no."