{TAZUKI}

Chapter 4: “We’ve Met Before!”

Tenshujichi (Kamakura, Japan)

I was hot, tired and mentally unstable after the incidents that took place at the Water Deity's shrine. 

My grandmother, who begged my mother to send me to her so that I could meet her and my long-lost aunt, Reika Kazunami, had let her mask slide off and showed her true colors by making me use my “Moana 2.0 powers” for her dirty work.

Which, truth be told, even I didn’t know I had. Reika thought it would be alright for me to get a little bit of fresh air after the turn of events, so I took my chance and dashed.

My mother hadn’t contacted me since the day she saw me off the train to Kamakura. Her letter was the only thing I had left. 

My hands were freezing as the chilly wind passed through my bones, making me shiver. I suddenly remembered that on this very street, I’d once toppled on top of a stranger. 

Feeling tingly from the cold as they were, my cheeks flushed scarlet from embarrassment just thinking about that again. 

I’d been walking straight ahead, to where–I didn’t know. I wasn’t looking where I was going and I didn’t have Reika to follow either. 

It was exactly like the situation from that day. And what happened next was the cherry on top of the re-enactment. 

WHAM!

My nose felt bruised instantly as it crashed into the back of another person. I immediately apologized, but at least this time I saw his face clearly.

All of his hair was shiny and grey, yet it didn’t look like bleach or premature aging. He had the eyes of a foreigner, the same color as his hair but with a glint of light reflecting inside.

“Oh, no problem! I guess you were preoccupied this time too,” he said. The voice wasn’t wheezing anymore. It was soft but low at the same time.

He seemed oddly familiar but I didn’t know why.

“Now that we’ve met twice, why don’t we get to know each other a little?” he asked. 

No way, I thought. He looked three years older than me at most. And I didn’t remember meeting him once either. 

But you also have your powers, one small advance and you can get rid of him, said a voice from some faraway part of my brain. 

I repeated the same phrase in my head.

“I don’t find trouble. Trouble always finds me.”

And I agreed. 

He led me to a nearby cafe and sat down. I somehow got the feeling that he would be some sort of influencer with his personality. 

“So…notice anything unusual in your routine lately?” he asked.

“Like what?” I feigned innocence.

He stared at me blankly. His eyes were still glowing faintly but it felt like they were making me feel guilty.

 If anyone knew about my powers and that I was from a predatorial family, they would chase me out.

The Elder told me that the Kazunami family has mixed with royal blood almost recently. Maybe she meant some royal family of the past.

 It's common knowledge that the seven continents now were once four, but with more kingdoms than there are countries. 

Any family like that would be known as a predatorial family since the crest of every royal family is our deity’s calling symbol—the water. Or a predator. It has fangs, fur, claws and a sharp tongue. 

Both biologically and literally. None of the predatorial families I’ve met are nice.

Take mine for an example: a mercenary aunt, a divorced mother who didn’t bother to contact me for months, and a greedy grandmother who’s after my inherited powers.

“Well, I thought you were similar to someone I know so maybe you might’ve had the same problem fitting in,” he said. 

“Guess I just wasted your time then, goodbye, Miss Kazunami.” 

“Wait a second,” I acted before my senses and grabbed onto his coat sleeve. “Who are you and how do you know my name?”

He turned back with a look of satisfaction on his face. His eyes weren’t shining now. Maybe his eyes were just reflecting light then.

“I apologize for the late introduction,” he took hold of my hand grabbing him and gently put it on the table. 

“I’m Isholde, Isholde von Sevran. As you can see, I’m not from here but on an investigative trip.”

“How am I involved?”

Several witnesses have reported having seen you around a Temple which was destroyed nearby. Could you please tell me if you happened to know anything?”

That still didn’t answer how he knew my name. It was strange, do foreign policemen really do an investigation on a minor suspect from a whole other continent? Did he find out that I destroyed it with my powers?

“Did you do a check on me?”

He still stared, smirking but his stare was empty. 

“Did you or did you not do a background check on me?” I repeated, but louder than before.

I pretended not to notice but the Water Deity’s dagger began to glow in my thigh holster. Light began to surround my eyes as I realized this was what the Deity meant by being alongside me. 

He came by the will of one who carries the enemy’s blood.

That blood is tied to yours, but has turned against it.

Because of their greed, kin became enemies.

Only your sacrifice can fix what they have broken.

An icy, faraway voice spoke in my brain. It was chillier than the last prophecy she had done. My own sacrifice? Will I have to give myself up, or offer somebody in my stead? 

On whose orders did he come to me? I turned back to ask him but I realized he had vanished from the scene, leaving smoke behind to distract people. 

Then I realized why his eyes were shining from that time.

Chapter Glossary:-

[*Mercenary : A soldier who fights for money rather than loyalty.]

[*Thigh holster: A strap attached to the thigh, used to hold weapons or gear securely.]

[*Water Deity: A divine being connected to water and prophecy.]

[*Prophecy: A divine or supernatural message foretelling events.]