I met him... Again... Looking sinister as ever.
Despite his face being concealed beneath the mask, I could tell he was looking at me head to toe. We were both disheveled: his clothes were rugged, his hat missing and covered in dirt, while I was bandaged, messy and uncontrollably shaking. He doesn't see me as a threat.
"Haah... I know you doubt my motives, but let's make a truce... For our mutual survival. Let's sit and take a break for a while, I bet you're tired as I am."
If I wasn't in that state, I would've ran away from him not wanting to see his face ever again, but at that point, I just slumped on the ground, feeling grateful that I could at least catch a damn break.
He also slumps on the ground, panting; I wonder what happened to him to get him so...
Tired. Back then he felt like a cunning foe that was a step ahead of me... No, of everyone else, as if he wasn't of this world even.
He opened his mask a bit, up to his nose, revealing a scarred and dry face
"Look, I have no value in killing you. Even if you try to expose me, everyone will think you're crazy because I'm a youkai - and people don't believe in youkai. I'm a kind youkai, I avoid unnecessary killings. That's why I would like you to cooperate. My motive is simple - obtain my offspring. By. Any. Means. Necessary.
I noticed that my poor child is bound to that ghost, and that ghost is intricately bound to that old shrine on top of the mountain."
"......... So what do you want me to do...?"
"I want to blow this place up and seal that bastard inside an amulet. I would've loved to just do it alone, but I need your help. Just to be on a lookout. Plus, two heads are better than one, don't you think?"
"..."
"We both want to survive this accursed island. Being together would ensure our safety. Before we split up, the attacks were rare. You're genuinely helpless without me, only know how to run. Absolutely zero means of self defense. Even against lunatic humans. I can at least shoot their brazen brains out and make proper talismans. So? Do you want to live or die miserably and alone?"
Damn it, why must he hit where it hurts the most. I genuinely have no means of fending for myself. I really have no choice, huh?...
"... A-Alright... I'll accompany you... Gentei."
"Mhm. Good choice. Now, since we can't rest for much longer; here, take this."
He throws me a walkie-talkie and I clumsily catch it.
"I want you to gather some resources for me to make a bomb. Unfortunately, my wishgranting abilities can only go so far, and I'm running out of stock anyway. At least it'll be a thing to remember Hifumi by."
I shudder at the moment he mentions his name. Hifumi... How can Gentei be so heartless towards his own loyal sidekick?
Gentei stands up and helps to get on my legs, brushing off the soot
"Report me when you'll find the ingredients or when someone is attacking you. I might not be able to arrive on time, but hell be damned if I leave you for dead now that we're partners in crime."
He gives me a note with those ingredients he keeps mentioning. Surprisingly, those are easily found in the forest and I don't need to bargain with paranoiacs who avoid me like a plague due to my "prayer" status.
After seeing this man commit absolutely amoral and cruel acts to achieve his goals, such as gutting a child soldier to use their organs as venomous ammo while they were alive, I made my goal to avoid him at all costs - as he was manipulating me to enable some of his abhorrent schemes. But now... I'm hopeless. I honestly thought that taking my own life would be easier and would stop the suffering, yet I still seek comfort.
"Now go, I'll tell you where we would meet. The clearer the audio, the closer we are to eachoter." And with that he leaves, probably off to commit even more of those acts.
I can't believe I let myself be used as a puppet again for him, but I just can't struggle anymore. I'll do everything to ensure his plan works.
I started to run towards the locations of the ingredients, hoping I won't run into that ghost or the child it holds captive.
Our goal is to survive, blow this place up and save that child