Chapter 1: Truck-kun?

『 Red Moon 』

The shrill whistle of wind overtook the silence; as an icy draft invading the well maintained temperatures of the car, through the window that I had refused to fully close. The world outside changed drastically as the roads turned and twisted; from the view of cluttered side streets, and snug neighbourhoods, into jutting sky scrapers and aesthetic luxuries that served no clear purpose. The midday sun cast a stark light onto the cityscape, one without shadow or blemish; complimenting, in a way, to the facade that it upheld. The facade that my family, upheld. 

I stared out into the murky distance, the ghost of stormclouds still visible behind the scarlet bridge; which extended across the broken land mass below it, of a major port that had been submerged under the churning tides. The rooftops of an apartment complex was still visible; jutting out of the water like jagged cliffs, where the seagulls took nest against the winds of the Pacific Ocean. 

A recent typhoon had swallowed a section of the western seawall whole; dragging the cliffside slums along to rest with the ruins of the port city of Yokohama. A week later, it was business as usual; no one batted an eye. 

It added a new attraction to the underwater subway system. People liked to stare at it. And talks of any financial aid for the people displaced by it were nonexistent. Those...were my very specific observations. 

It was an incident that was ignored, because the majority had no personal connection to it. I had ignored it, because it was just a subscript In a tabloid article that I had briefly glanced at. But it felt strange, kind of foreboding in a way. 

I leaned into the cushiony seats of the car and sighed; my hair flying everywhere as I pulled the window down halfway. I heard my chaperone grumble in complaint, but it only put a smile on my face as continued to pull the window down further out of spite.

I liked the wind; because it numbed my thoughts. It was cold enough for that, even though winter in Japan was barely comparable to what I was used to. 

I like the cold, so this so called bodyguard was just going to have to deal with it.

A train passed overhead, and the view of of the extension bridge fell behind the wall of office buildings as we turned into the congested streets of Ashihara. 

The wind died instantly, choked out by the towering buildings as the fumes of smog replaced it. My hair fell over my face like a puffed up birds nest; the prickly stench of car exhaust stinging my overly sensitive nose.

' Uhhh '

I pushed my bangs out of my face and rolled the window back up; my eyes glazing over as I stared out into the so called trade central of the eastern isles. The only thing of interest here were the crows that lined the rooftops of the central Ashihara skyline. From way up there...they could probably see the cobweb design of the road system that stretched out across the city; converging the building traffic into the central square, and the crosswalks that ebbed through its middle. 

People rushed across them, signaled by the changing traffic lights that regulated the crowded roadways. Everyone went about their day, without a second glance at their surroundings. That kind of life was the norm here. Nothing new about it. 

What I'm seeing now probably looks a lot more interesting; from a bird's eye view. 

Something dashed across the largest of the crosswalks, catching my attention from the almost one hundred metre distance between us. 

It was a small cat. 

I leaned against the window, trying to get a better view of the black cat through the swath of cars we were stuck behind. From first glance, it looked like my own kitten; making me anxious even though I knew it didn't make sense for him to get all the way out here. 

'He was back at the dorm, there was no way...But what if..? '

The cat stopped halfway across the white painted crosswalk, and a little boy ran after it. He looked small, in a sea of adults that didn't seem to notice him as they brushed past. 

A sharp pain shot through my head; my head smacking into the glass as the noise from my own surroundings snaped to muted silence. I winched as I looked on at the crosswalk, the noise from there beginning to flood into my ears. 

" --Kitty!" A small voice shouted, bearly audible amongst the mess of car horns and the unintelligible chatter of pedestrians. Even so, I could guess who the source was. 

I could see the boy dash across the crosswalk, weaving through the new wave of pedestrians as the light turned a steady red. 

" --Huh, whats with that truck?" 

" --Crazy drivers--these days"

I heard the whispy remains of conversations, as a few people stopped walking, to stare at an incoming truck that was speeding past the roads as the other cars swerved out of the way. The truck kept coming. The little boy kept running forward. 

The light remained red. 

" --What the hell??" 

" --MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!" 

" --AAAAAH--WHAT IS THIS--"

"--MOVE!!---"

The boy stopped. I heard the impact. The sound rang in my ears. Screeching tires, and a prolonged honk, as the truck rammed through; stopped only by the buffer of multiple cars that it took down with it. A gut wrenching scream shot through my ears as I fell back into my seat, gasping for air. 

Then it stopped. 

All I could hear was my own shivering hands as I looked back at the wreckage. Smoke billowed into the windless sky, from the trucks engine which was now on fire. The smoke curled and twirled, dancing alone amongst the chaos; accumulating, solidifying. 

The hairs on my arms stood on end as I looked at the slithering shadow. It towered over the ensuing chaos, it's raccoon like body smeared a soot black. It's blood shot eyes turned my way, seeming to stare right at me. I tensed, gripping my shaking hands until they stung. 

I glared back at it; even as my mind went blank. 

The creature blinked slowly. It's body dissolving into the smoke; before disappearing entirely. 

" Oh, an accident. Perhaps it would be faster to chart a new course?" A gravelly voice broke the silence, but I did not look its way. All I could hear were my paniced breathing, among the echoes of the screams that were no longer audible. 

" Is that alright with you, young master? "

I did not respond. 

" Young master Akashi" 

'It's happening again... My senses being stronger than they should be, shifting from normal to... Not. This--its been a while since the last time it happened. I...thought I was fine now.. '

"...." I rubbed the temple of my forehead, forcing my etched forwn to relax as I slowed my breathing. 

'I couldn't panic. I wouldn't panic.'

" --this f***ing kid..." My chaperone mumbled under his breath, letting go of the steering wheel as the incoming sounds of ambulances brought traffic to a complete stand still. 

" What..?" I said, frowning at the man, whose eyes were not so clear under the black shades he wore. 

" Nothing! Nothing... It's just that you seem to be in..deep thought, young master. I was simply wondering what about" He sounded amused, turning around to smile, although I could tell even through the tinted sunglasses that his eyes did not. 

I paused, before pulling out my own fake smile. Which was far more convincing that his.

" Hm, well…You are sorely mistaken dear Butler! There is not a thought inside this brain, none!" I said flatly, tapping my head in exaggeration as I looked directly at the imposing figure that sat in the drivers seat. 

The man in the black tuxedo seemed well acquainted with my sarcasm; though I didn't remember ever meeting him before. His expression remained the same, except for his left eyebrow, which twitched slightly. 

" Haha is that right? The Lady Fujihara made sure that we all were well informed about the young master's..outstanding athletic abilities. I'm sure young master's skills are plenty enough; thoughts aren't always…necessary"

'Is he…calling me dumb?'

" Becoming a criminal isn't exactly what I have in mind for my life after high school…but hey, stealing from the weak is easy! Isn't that right?"

The buzz of the car engine roared to life as a pathway out of the main road cleared out; but the hiss of irritation that escaped the butler's stoic facade was significantly more attention grabbing, and rewarding.

I smiled at the man, who had suddenly gone silent. He had obviously taken offence to my comment, with his jaws clenched against any colourful words he wanted to throw at my face, but couldn't. 

'Heh.'

I quietly stared at the gun, holstered at his waist; before turning back to staring out the car window in silence; Wrapping my racing thought tightly, and drowning it under the rhythmic drum of the car engine. 

⊹ ⊹ ⊹ ⊹

" We have arrived at the Fujihara household, young master" 

I glanced up at the gates to the mansion, of the 'family home' that only a single family member bothered to reside in. It's traditional Japanese architecture stood out amongst the modern buildings it neighbored; feeling a bit out of place with the mountain range that loomed behind it. But this was grandmother's house, grand and traditional was to be expected. Nothing had changed about that. 

" I can see that" 

I smiled at the butler, who still looked fairly irritated, before getting out of the car. I stretched my cramped arms, yawning as I stared up into the yellow canopy of the old ginko tree; which swayed slightly in the wind. It had always been there, as far back as I could remember. The first time I visited my grandmother, at the young age of three when I was first told that she existed... I think seeing this giant tree was a good memory, at least. 

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" Would you like me to carry your luggage inside?" 

I glanced over at the butler, who was holding the duffel bag I had left lying around in the back seat. 

It wasn't luggage, it was just my gym clothes. They grabbed me straight from school; because nobody seemed to care that I was missing classes. Which was ironic, because they expected no less than top grades from me. 

" No it's fine, give it here" 

He stared at me silently, before tossing it over for me to catch. 

" Thanks" I said, walking inside. I could hear his angry muttering as I entered the front garden, through the gates that swung open due of the facial recognition feature that grandmother had installed—I flinched back a little because I forgot that fact. I hadn't lived here for about two years after all. 

I made my way along the outdoor halls that wove around the estate; avoiding the main corridor and building from whence any staff would be expecting to greet me. Of course they already knew where I was; the security cameras weren't just for display, but I wanted to delay confrontation, to buy myself more time to process my thoughts before my guard had to go back up again. 

Looking out into the well maintained garden of bonsai and red maple, I let out a relieved breath as I noticed a familiar statue in the thicket. I walked over to it and dusted off a layer of dirt that had built up on its cute little head, smiling a bit nostalgically. 

There was a wooden fence behind the little fox, a fence that had a particularly low roof, one that I could easily jump over. The little shortcut I made back then led straight to my old room of course. 

I stared at the statue for a moment longer, it's eroded stone face beginning to resemble that of a tanuki the longer I stared. I froze as the image of the swirling smoke, and the accident, popped up in my mind. The booldshot eyes that had looked at me, from the raccoon like creature in the smoke as if it recognized me, and I recognized it; the shock I had held back came flooding in as my hands began to tremble. 

I crouched down and clenched my shivered hands, willing them to stop. 

'It was a hallucination. It was just a hallucination..! The accident too-- What licensed truck drives like that?? There's no way...'

It happened, I knew that it did. 

'The...medication can mix this... '

Of course it can't. It never did. 

' The cat, and the little boy...maybe they're alright? It's...possible. I... '

I heard the screams with my own ears. I heard the crash. I heard it. I.... 

" .... " 

I tilted my head back against the cool wood of the fence, closing my eyes as the light drizzle of rain began to collect on my face. I was perfectly still, for  what felt like hours, as the rain soaked my clothes through. 

When I opened my eyes again, the darkness cast by the setting sun was to me, as clear as day time. So clear than I could plainly see the disfigured creatures that haunted this estate, writhing and murmuring from under the shadow that was cast on the koi pond, by the red bridge that spanned over it. 

 [ Get yourself together.. You've seen worse.. ] 

The sound that came out of my mouth was distorted; it sounded like a growl of an animal. 

[ Just forget about it. It's fine to forget. It's not my fault; so it's fine. ] I muttered to myself as I stared dead on at the ink like hands that pushed their way out from under the bridge. Their bulbous eyes looked at me in pleading, as if I could help them. Like they needed my help. 

I blinked, and darkness swallowed the courtyard whole, making me blind to anything the faint light of the lanterns didn't touch. Returning my sight to what a normal person would see. There were no hands. There were no youkai. 

A knocking sound interrupted the sound of my own racing heartbeat. Three small knocks came from behind me, from the other side of the fence I was leaning against. It distracted me from my thoughts, for a few short seconds, my breathing slowing as I stared in its direction. 

" Young master?" A soft voice called from the other side. I recognized the voice as the old kitchen lady; the nice granny who was the estate chef. 

It was familiar and calming, hearing her speak. 

" Hmm? Is something the matter Aki-chan?"

" Ah..No. I-I'm alright" I stammered, dusting myself off as I stood up. I hadn't expected granny to be here, but it looked like she had expected me. How long has she been waiting out in the rain.. 

I grabbed the top of the fence, before hauling myself up. I looked down at the smiling face of soft wrinkles and greyed hair as I squatted on top of the fence; before smiling myself, albeit weakly. 

" Hi... Saki obaasan.."

" Good to see you are still healthy, young master! I was assured by the school chef that our Aki-chan was eating well at the very least, but.." 

She stopped her sentence short, touching her cheek in concern like she had forgotten something.

I jumped down from the fence and shifted my feet awkwardly, realizing as I looked at my empty hands that I left my duffel bag on the other side. 

" Oh! You're soaking wet..! The lady will raise all hell if the young master is to get sick! Please hurry inside! "

" Ah, but--"

" I will hear no excuses from you young man! Hurry along and get a change of clothes! I will ready a warm bath for you in the meantime. "

" A bath..? Oh no it's alright Obaasan! I don't need to us the hot springs. I'll just take a quick shower! " I said, ruffeling the rain out of my hair as we moved under the wooden canopy of the outdoor walkways. 

She started at me quietly, then sighed. The disgruntled look on her face was probably because of the annoyed expression I was making now. I was hiding it to some degree, but not well enough I guess. 

" Alright..do that...Ah, right, Although it isn't time for dinner just yet, some tea and your favorite snacks are ready for you! You see...the lady Fujihara has missed you quite dearly I'm afraid. "

" My...grandmother? Really? "

" Yes of course! As have we. Your grandmother is simply too stubborn to admit it! " Granny Saki chuckled, pinching my cheek. I giggled a bit despite myself. Not that I wasn't particularly happy. 

" There's a surprise waiting for our sweet Aki-chan as well! Go see for yourself, I'm sure you'll like it!" 

Dad was coming back to the mainland today; he didn't say why but.. he said he'd be here. That's why I was here. That was the surprise. 

" Haha really? Thanks obaasan! " I faked ignorance,  shuffling my feet awkwardly as I realized my hands were empty, and that my bag had been left of the dewy grass; on the other side of the fence. 

" Hm? Is there something wrong?" 

" Ah no, I left my bag.." I said, scratching my cheek. The enthusiasm was starting to drain from my voice, becoming more monotonous as the conversation dragged on. No one usually noticed my habits, so I didn't try hard to fake it, not more than I had to. 

" Oh! It's alright! I'll get the housekeeper to fetch it for you. Run along now!" She said, shooing me away. 

" Young master Aoki is already here, and I'm afraid he looks quite bored without his older brother!" 

See. She didn't notice. Probably. 

" Haha-- I better go save my snacks before he eats it all out of boredom then!" I called back as I walked away, heading through the flickering light of the lanterns that lined the halls. They illuminated my mask of a face, the smile it bore twitching as it hid my annoyance and disgust. 

Granny was still back there, observing me silently. I wasn't looking her way, but I knew. 

Even without hallucinating, I always had stronger senses; smell, sight, hearing, all of that. My spacial awareness was unnatural, but the teachers like to call it a talent. 

A talent that made getting monitored by the people here seem more creepy than it had to be. A talent that showed me hallucinations of shadowy creatures, from time to time. 

I didn't particularly dislike granny. I didn't hate her, but whether she was a kind old lady or not, she was still employed by my grandmother. So she had the obligation of reporting to her; about me, and my strangeness. 

I couldn't be naive enough to think that she was all that innocent. No one here was. 

If..anyone thought about it for more than a second, behind this guise of a giant business conglomerate, or whatever else they showed off to the public; the way this family functioned was always akin to something else entirely. And calling them the Yakuza, would be putting it lightly. 

My uncle, and my grandmother; they both put pride and power above everything else. They were ruthless. So I could blame them for that. 

But this wasn't their fault. Not this specific problem. 

I threw my head back and growled in frustration, my anger dissipating as I stared at the plume of smoke that it had created. 

' I fear grandmother so much that my anxiety is making things up-- would anyone believe an explanation like that from me? Do I believe it? '

My crystallized breath danced in the semi frigid winds of the dimming skies, fading into nothingness as I stared blankly on at the red tinged sun. It was barely visible, behind themountainous slopes that jutted upwards like prison walls. 

" I...don't"

I turned, and walked away, towards the bright electric lights of the main building. 

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