An Oni

“...Good morning.”

How long has it been since I woke up? A couple of days? A couple of weeks? I can’t tell. Every day just blends into the next...

“Ahh...”

Sake is good. Drinking beneath the full moon... Isn’t that the life? Sake, the moon, and a hot guy beside me... one out of three isn’t bad either. It’s day, after all. And the only thing beside me is...

“AaaaaAaAAaaa!”

This disgusting thing... I don’t know how the people who live here can stand them. They’re so noisy... But I guess they can’t hear them. Like they’re in different worlds...

“AaaAa-“

It finally shut up... Not that it could keep screaming with my hand through its throat. Quickly, before it disappears... Melt it in the sake...

“Ahh...”

At least they’re useful as a side dish. Such a deep, bitter flavor... But I miss the flavor of humans. Their sweet blood and rich bones... But there’s no point if they don’t react. They can’t see me either...

I guess I’m no different from these disgusting things? Some kind of out-of-phase existence... But it’s not all bad. No one can see me, so no one minds if I watch them. Kids going to school in the morning, housewives hanging out the laundry, office ladies stumbling home drunk... It’s interesting...

I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of them. So even if there’s no meaning to my days, I’ll be fine. There’s sake to drink, and spirits to eat, and people to watch. That’s enough, that’s enough...

“Mmm...”

It’s nice to stretch out and lie back on a slanted roof. No one can see me, so I can be as lazy as I want to be. The warmth of the setting sun on my skin... Maybe I’ll take a nap... it’s easy to curl up in this small divot and...

“...Good morning.”

Another day? No it’s night, isn’t it... There’s barely any difference to my eyes. Ahh, but there’s a lot more disgusting things around now. I don’t know why... It’s not like they need to hide or anything.

“AaaaaaAaa...”

So noisy... Really, I’m so tired of them. Ahh... I just want to melt them all up at once...

“A-“

But they’re not worth it. Or rather, I just don’t feel like it. This was such a nice spot, too...

“AaAaAaAa!”

Fine, fine, I’ll move. There was a park near here, right? It was a bit too busy during the day, but now that it’s night, it should be just right for a cup of sake. Maybe there’ll be some handsome drunkard to sit next to, too. Even if they can’t see me, it’s better company than nothing.

“Mmm?”

Blood? The scent of blood mixed with bitterness... Have I smelled this before? I can’t remember... Oh, and it’s coming from such a handsome man, too... You really shouldn’t have picked a fight with such a disgusting thing when you’re so weak.

“AAAa-“

Honestly... What would you have done if I wasn’t here? Died all on your own? Such a waste...
Well, it’s not like you can see me, so I’ll be... You can... see me?

~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

Shit. No one said there was going to be a 1st grade spirit here! God damn it... I can’t run anymore. I don’t want to die like this! I don’t-

“AAAa-“

Want to... die? It’s... dead? How? Who? Is that... a girl? No. No that’s not a girl. Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit. No, get away, don’t come closer!

~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

“Can you... see me?”

Can you? He’s not responding, but he is staring right at me, so I guess he can? Why does he look so afraid? I guess he did almost die...

“You can see me, so...”

He’s quite a bit taller than me, isn’t he? It’s easy to tell when I’m kneeling on him like this. I knew I was on the short side, but isn’t this a bit much? Maybe he’s just really tall...

“...you’ll pay me back, right?”

I mean, I did save you. It’s only fair. And it’s been so long since I’ve tasted human blood... Just let me...

“Ahh...”

It’s so good. So sweet... So different from the spirits. Again and again... Wiggling my finger in his wound and licking it clean... I can’t help it... Let me get closer... More...

~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

Why is there a special grade spirit licking my student’s chest? I... I was ready for any number of things, but this... Was not one of them.

“Why don’t you get off him.”

Oh, she reacted? Well, she’s still sitting on my poor student, but at least she’s not licking him anymore?

“Why?”

...Why? What do you mean, why? Isn’t it- No, just because she looks like a human doesn’t mean she is one.

“He looks like he’s in pain.”

...She actually got off.

“How rude... It was so tasty, too...”

*I’m* the one who’s rude??? And now she’s... Is that a sake dish? Now that I think about it, there *is* a strong scent of alcohol floating around...

“Want some?”

Is she... offering me a drink? A special grade spirit?? Who was just licking my student???

“You‘re the first humans I’ve seen who can see me too... It’s a celebration...”

And now she’s drinking it... And what does she mean we’re the first she’s seen? Has she never encountered an exorcist before?

“...No thank you. I really need to take my student to the hospital right now.”

“Oh.”

She left.

~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

“Ahh~”

I’m a bit... excited. How long has it been? Have I ever felt like this before? There are people who can see me. There are people who can hear me. Ahh, I can barely contain myself. I can’t sit still. Will I see them again? Will I talk to them again? I want to. I want to! I want to so much!

“Hehe... Hahahahaha!”

Ahh, I can’t help myself. I can’t stop laughing. Drinking alone is fine, but... Drinking with other people is so much nicer.