The Demon [A JSHK Fanfiction]

Chapter 12

"Izumi-chan, are you going?" The girl looked up at her friend.

"No... sorry, Nene!" Izumi gave her friend a small smile, hugging her. "I have something to tell Tsuchigomori-san."

"Oh," Nene looked at her with worry. Izumi broke the hug and patted Nene's head.

"Take care," she mumbled. Nene smiled back, excusing herself. Izumi watched as Nene walked away, her smile faltering. She sighed tiredly, deciding to go to her old friend.

Upon reaching his place, Izumi wasted no time opening his door. She looked around, calling for the teacher.

"Tsuchigomori?" She called, peeking through the door. She lightly smiled as she saw the two-toned teacher smoking in his pipe.

"What are you doing here, Izumi?" He asked, surprised by her sudden visit. Izumi sighed as she slid through the door and closed it behind her. She sat at a nearby chair, silently looking at him. "Izumi?"

Now, Tsuchigomori was worried. The girl was unusually quiet, and the expression on her face— Tsuchigomori knew something was up.

"My family..." Izumi spoke after a few minutes of silence. At this, Tsuchigomori perked up. The girl had never mentioned a word about them, aside from yesterday. "I've been dreaming of them."

Tsuchigomori stared at the girl, shocked by her words. He felt shivers running down his spine at he mention of her family. "What are they about?"

"They wanted me back," Izumi mumbled, her body shaking. "They said mean things about you, this world, and my newfound friends."

"T-They blamed me for their deaths. And... And they blamed me for Nene's fate," Izumi let out a shaky sigh, not liking the topic about her family. "They found out that I was bounded to a human— er, well, he's a ghost now."

"They told me that you don't care about me..." Izumi trailed off, her eyes glossy from the tears welling up. "...Is-Is that true?"

At that point, Tsuchigomori stood up. He walked towards Izumi, his expression was soft. He pulled the girl up on her feet and without any words, he pulled her in a tight embrace.

Izumi couldn't help the tears from escaping, although a supernatural, his body held an unusual warmth that comforted her. She hugged back, sobbing in his chest.

"I-It wasn't my intention to doubt you, Tsuchigomori," Izumi mumbled in between her sobs. "I'm sorry."

"I know," he stroked her hair gently, like a father comforting his crying child. His grip tightened as Izumi spoke again.

"No m-matter how much I denied their claims, they managed to get to me," Izumi's voice lowered in a whisper as she clung to him tightly, feeling safe in his arms. "Because you're very important to me, Tsuchigomori."

———

After the whole event, Izumi had never left Tsuchigomori's place. She was terrified of what her family would do of she's ever alone.

Despite being alone most of the time in his place, she never felt alone. It must've been because she knew the teacher would always be there with her.

"Izumi," the two-toned teacher called. He had returned from his class that day, and he felt exhausted. Izumi looked at him from the couch, posed in an odd angle.

"Hello, Tsuchigomori-san!" Izumi waved her hand from her head and smiled slightly. Tsuchigomori gave her an odd look before shaking his head and handing her a snack.

"For me?" Izumi asked, getting up from her uncomfortable position. Tsuchigomori nodded, sitting down behind his desk.

"I figured you'd be craving something after a long while. It might also help with your mood," he spoke, getting comfortable in his seat. "You've been glum lately."

"Oh? I haven't noticed," Izumi looked from the snack and towards the teacher, a wide smile spreading on her face. "Thank you."

Tsuchigomori only gave her a nod and a smile, starting to work on grading his students' assignments.

"You know, Tsuchigomori-san," Izumi spoke, opening the wrapper of her food. "Ever since her death, many had been able to see me. With or without shifting."

"You're probably starting to finally be attached in this world," he replied. Izumi hummed, munching on her food as she watched him work.

"Then, do you think my family won't be able to bring me back?" She asked, noticing how the teacher's shoulders tensed.

"Why'd you say that?" He asked carefully. Izumi frowned as she looked down at her feet.

"Last night, they visited me again," Izumi replied. "They... They were very violent."

"Why did they suddenly turned violent?" Tsuchigomori frowned in worry, looking up from the piles of papers on his desk. Izumi shrugged in response.

"Even I don't know," she sighed, lying on the couch upside down. She kicked her feet above the headrest, her food long forgotten in her hands. "They were shouting, hitting, and berating me. And if I ask, they would turn even more violent."

"But the worst was probably when they told me lies about you, Nene, Kou, and Hanako," Izumi looked at the door, frowning. "It was when I snapped at them. I... may have worsened the situation."

There was a heavy silence between them. Tsuchigomori was at a loss for words. He didn't know how to help the demon. The newfound information was hard to swallow. Knowing the girl for a very long time, it was the first time something like this was brought to his attention.

He had helped the girl most of the time, but at this point, he knew he can't be of help to her— he didn't know how he could help. He felt terrible.

Izumi, herself, knew that she was powerless against her family. And she knew just how useless she would be if ever a fight goes down.

She can't just go around and tell her peers about what her family is planning. Not when she still is unsure of their plans. She felt dread clawing its way up to her whenever she would be visited by her family.

It was never a good feeling.

"How has Honorable No. 7 been?" Izumi asked, finally changing the subject. Tsuchigomori let out a sigh, folding his arms against his chest.

"Hopefully well. He had been a pain this past few days," he answered. Izumi hummed interest as she looked at him.

"How so?" She asked, getting up from her position. "Last time I saw him, he was sad."

"Let's just say, he's always following me around," he answered with a sigh. "And he just latches off of me when the girl comes to his bathroom."

"Oh, which is probably why he's not with you," Izumi hummed. Tsuchigomori only looked at her.

"That, and you need to go out more," he remarked. Izumi looked up at him, pouting.

"But I don't want to see my family," Izumi retorted. "If I were to go out, I might as well cling to you with Honorable No. 7."

"Don't even try," Tsuchigomori shot her a look. Izumi only chuckled.

"No promises, sensei," Izumi smiled widely. Tsuchigomori fought back the smile that was creeping up his lips.

"You better not. Having the Honorable No. 7 clinging to me is enough," he grumbled. Izumi laughed in mirth, as she smiled at the teacher.

"I guess that's fair."