Chapter 2

Shiro’s POV

”Hey are you even listening Shiro?”

“Yeah, yeah, you were talking about another rich guy that you met on a group date, you’re in University now yknow Miyabi. Shouldn’t you be focusing more on your studies?”

“It’s important we don’t lose sight of the beauty of our youth Shiro! We can’t ALL be born the heiress to the best traditional Inn, in all of Japan now can we? A gals gotta make sure she knows which guy will provide the most amount of financial security for the future. Besides, my lectures are boring as hell! I wish I could do a fruitless Ancient History degree like you. But unless I find a rich husband, I will have to knuckle down and get my PhD. Oh Romeo, wherefore art thou my sweet, rich, Romeo!”

“...There she goes again, I think I’ll head to class Miyabi”

“ Ohhhh Romeo...”

“…What am I gonna do with you.”

Having left Miyabi to her delusions, I made my way to class. I like to be early so that I can quickly review material from the previous lecture. I feel that it’s important to keep on top of my studies. University is the last bit of freedom I’ll have before I have to return to the Inn and learn the business from my Grandmother and Mother. Despite what Miyabi says, it’s not easy being heiress to an Inn, especially in Japan…

I opened the door to the lecture theatre and spotted someone sitting at the very back bench with his chin on his hand and staring blankly out the window. He either didn’t notice me come in or he doesn’t care to acknowledge it. No matter how early I come, he is always here, sitting in the exact same seat. Despite the lonely atmosphere that surrounds him, There is beauty in how he continues to exist in that same spot day after day.

“Good afternoon Fujioka-san.”

“Oh, is that you Shirayuki-san? I didn’t hear you come in.”

That would be that, no further communication till our next meeting. I would normally sit at the front as always and begin going through my notes, but thinking about what Miyabi said earlier made me rethink my position. University was my last chance to be free, so before I return to the Inn up in the snowy mountains of the Niigata prefecture. I think I’ll allow myself to indulge in my “youth” at least once.

“Ummmm…?”

“Hm? Oh what is it Shirayuki-san?”

“Well...do you mind if I sit next to you?”

“...”

“...”

“...”

He’s just staring at me! If this keeps up, I’m gonna blush from the embarrassment of being ignored and subsequently turned down. What should I do? Dammit Miyabi, this is the last time I pay attention to anything that you say.

I clenched my eyes shut and bowed apologetically.

“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to make you fee...”

“Sure.”

“Eh?”

My mind was blank, I looked up and saw him looking at me. I made my way up the steps towards the bench at the back and sat next to him. The silence was maddening. When I finally plucked up the courage to steal a glance, my heart sank.

“Y-you’re a...you’re a Damien!"

“What!?”

He looked startled, like if I had just apprehended and unmasked him at a robbery.

“H-how do you?”

“I-it’s your eyes, your eyes are scarlet, how did I not notice something like this earlier? For a Damien to be right under my nose for so long...”

Kuro’s POV

How, how did this girl manage to figure out what I am! That bastard Seir said that if I used this talisman then I didn’t have to mask my appearance and waste my demonic energy anymore. Only a high level Devil or Yokai could, hold on. I looked closer at the girl that was close enough for me to hear breathing, sure enough she looked like your average Japanese University student. I could tell that she was popular with the boys, I’m sure she was mistaken for a celebrity multiple times in her life, but something wasn’t right. Behind her looks, that would make the average Japanese woman green with envy, there was something else. It was faint, but I could sense something, something supernatural. Damn that Seir, he never told me that there was someone strong enough to see through my disguise in the vicinity.

“Achoooo!”

“...Is everything OK my Lord? Should I prepare the bath with influenza purifying salts?”

“Ah no need Alice-chan, I think someone is just thinking about me, who could it be?"

I need to find out more information before I can make a move.

“Shirayuki-san, you’re a Yokai aren’t you? You don’t give me the same feeling as a Devil, so you must be a Yokai.”

“Eh? There’s no way that you can sense that Fujioka-san. Damiens shouldn’t be able to sense the difference between Yokai and Devils. Damiens shouldn’t be able to sense Yokai at all.”

So she is a Yokai and going by the pressure she’s starting to exhibit she’s pretty powerful. Damn, I don’t want a confrontation right now. It’s too early for me to blow my cover and from what Seir told me about Yokai, they are very hostile to Damiens, due to the belief that we bring misfortune.

“Hehe so we were both hiding something from everyone, huh Fujioka-san? I was wondering why my spiritual power, went a little out of sync whenever I saw you”

“Huh?”

This is strange, this girl is smiling at me, even after finding out what I am. There is not a shred of hostility coming from her, if anything, it’s getting cold. Wait, it’s FREEZING, it’s the middle of summer and my fingers are going numb. I have no choice, to be able to fight and defend myself against her, I will have to use the Will of Lucifer, to have her reveal her true form. Only then will I know what I’m dealing with.

Shiro’s POV

Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap, crap...CRAP! What do I do? I can’t stop reverting back to my original form. If someone comes in, then they will surely see me and freeze to death. From what Grandmother has told me, Damien’s are not strong enough to endure the coldness of a high level Yuki Onna either. At this rate, Fujioka-san will....

My spiritual power is all over the place, I can’t resist transforming anymore, it’s like something is forcing me to transform, damn it...

“I’m sorry...Fujioka-san.”

“...Beautfiul, N-no, I mean...”

“Eh, Ehhhhhhhh?”

My face went beetroot red, from the corner of my eye, I could see the snow white glow of my hair that was distinctive to only the upper echelon of the Yuki Onna Clan. Despite being in sub zero temperatures, my face was hot. Being called The Princess of Niigata, by many of my kin and other Yokai alike. I was used to receiving compliments for my true appearance. It was the first time however, that I had revealed my true form to a non-yokai and for that person to be half human and still be able to withstand the sheer force of my icy atmosphere, was pleasing. It made the spirit of the Yuki Onna within me leap with joy! We did it Great Ancestors, we finally got the humans to accept us in our true form and not die from witnessing our chilling appearance.

We both bashfully smiled at each other. Fujioka-san blushed, his pale skin turned the same colour as his eyes, he quickly collected his things and hurried out the lecture theatre. As he began to move further and further away, I started to gain a better control of my spiritual power and was able to revert back to human form. Thankfully I was also able to dispel the cold before the lecture started.

One thing was for sure though, I couldn’t stop thinking about the man known as Kuro Fujioka, or stop replaying what he said in my mind. I can't wait to hear what Miyabi has to say about this...