Day 5: Write a story with a Magic Material-type monster
Rihanna Song, You Know the One
Pitter patter pitter patter. Dang. Those clouds were looking awfully dark but I didn’t think it’d rain until later. Running through the streets trying to get home before it gets worse ducking under trees and storefront overhangs. But the sprinkle falls harder, until the skies open up in a mighty torrent. The rain falls in sheets, leaving large puddles and small rivers along the sidewalk, flowing into the drains. Running now, nearing the apartment, more for relief than an attempt to remain dry, passes by an abandoned, worn out umbrella. Noticing, but not worth taking. If it was a good umbrella, someone wouldn’t have dropped it on the side of the street. On the front steps at last, unlocking the door, walking inside and shivering. Soaked to the bone. Change into dry clothes. At last, dry and comfortable, listening to the sounds of the rain tapping on the roof and windows.
When Daichi opened the door to a knocking sound the next day, he had no idea who it could be. But he would have expected somebody. Not the worn out umbrella he had passed on the street the previous day. He bent down to pick it up, and saw that it was an oil-paper umbrella. Or was it? He’d thought it was the modern plastic and metal contraption. But this one was an older, more traditional variety. Looking around, wondering what on earth he was supposed to do with it, he felt a compulsion to bring it inside. Instead of disposing of it, he set it on the floor by the door, and forgot about it.
“Ahhh! What are you doing?” Daichi woke up the next morning, to find a woman laying on top of him, arms wrapped tightly around his chest.
“Master took me in. Let Hiroko serve you. Please.”
“Who are you and how did you get in here?” She looked at him blankly.
“Master does not want Hiroko? Does Master hate Hiroko?”
“Hiroko will prove her usefulness to Master”. She caught his lips in a firm kiss, preventing his protest. As she released him, she began to reach for his pants.
“Hey you can’t just barge into someone’s house and-is that a TONGUE?”
---
After an intense, unexpected session with Hiroko, Daichi finally managed to get out of the bed. She clung onto his arm as he walked about the room, trying to pull in his clothes. Hungry. That sure took a lot out of me. He made himself some food and at last sat down, with Hiroko clinging onto his side. “So, would you care to answer my questions? I won’t-” he paused. Did he want her to stay? Or leave? She hadn’t been very receptive to his questioning. Worried that she would assault him again, he put on a reassuring smile. “I won’t make you leave. I just want to know a little about you”.
“I’m Hiroko. I’m a monster, a Karakasa-Obake. I was born from the spirit of an umbrella. You took me into your house, so now I will serve you. Please?”
“I didn’t...I didn’t expect for that umbrella to turn into anything. I don’t even know how it got on my doorstep. But alright, you can stay.” Hiroko glomped him.
“ThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyouThankyou!”
---
Life was starting to feel strictly more difficult with Hiroko. She wouldn’t let go of him, and it was all he could do to find privacy in the bathroom. When he left for work, she cried pitifully, and pounced on him as soon as he came home. She was a lovely sight, a certain pleasure in the way she would lay with him, but Daichi was starting to wonder who was really doing the serving. After a week of the same tiring behavior, he sat down for a talk.
“Hiroko, I want you to tell me why you’re behaving like this.”
“Is Master unhappy with Hiroko? Has she not done enough?” She looked at him with fearful eyes.
“No no, not exactly. It’s just, I don’t understand why you’re acting like this. You won’t let go of me and when I’m gone, you jump on me as soon as I’m back. I...I don’t know it’s like you’re afraid to be separated from me.Is there anything you can tell me about before you were, uh, born?”
“Hiroko doesn’t remember much. But...Hiroko remembers a family. Passed down for years, kept and used for her one purpose. But then she was ignored. Alone, in a dark closet. No more use. Then, cast out on the streets.
“They must have gotten another umbrella”.
“Another? But why? What was wrong with Hiroko? Why wouldn’t they need her anymore?”
“I don’t know. But Hiroko, I can assure you, I don’t have any, well...I have one. But I won’t-I can use...you...if that’s what you’d like”. His voice got quieter, and he felt awkward.
“Yes! Please, let Hiroko protect you!”
“Alright. I’ll let you do that. Just...could you give me a bit more space? I don’t mind spending time with you, but I’d like a little time to myself. A bit of time to sit down when I come back home. But it doesn’t mean I don’t like you”. He added, to assuage her worried look.
“Yes, Hiroko will be more careful.
---
The gentle tapping of the rain was what greeted Daichi as He arose Friday morning. Where was Hiroko? After dressing, he walked downstairs to find that she was cooking breakfast! Or trying to. Instead it resulted in a lot of burnt food in the pan. “Master! It’s raining, so Hiroko thought she could walk you to work. And, Hiroko wanted to make you food. But-” Daichi smiled at her.
“I’d love for you to walk me to work. But Why don’t I handle breakfast today?”
Arriving at the office, he gave Hiroko a kiss on the cheek. “See you tonight?”
“Hiroko will be here for you.” She turned and walked off as Daichi opened the door.
“Good morning Hashimoto.” Daichi nodded to his coworker.
“Good morning, Fujisawa”.
“I couldn’t help but notice that nice lady with you out there.”
“Yes, that’s Hiroko.”
“And she’s…” Fujisawa looked at him, wondering how they were connected.
“She’s h, living with me.”
“You girlfriend?”
“I guess”.
“One of those monsters? Looked like there was an umbrella on top of her head.”
“Not the strangest thing on top of her head.” He refused to answer any more of Fujisawa’s questions.
---
“You want to come to the bar with us, Hashimoto?” Daichi’s coworkers were finishing their work and preparing to celebrate the weekend.
“Hiroko said she’d meet me here when I was done working.”
“Why don’t you bring her with you?” He thought, until he noticed Hiroko approaching the building.
“Hiroko! Would you like to come with me to the bar tonight? I’m going with my coworkers.” She looked at the group for a moment.
“I will come with you”. So they walked to the closest bar they could, already packed with patrons in various stages of drunkenness. Hiroko sat next to Diachi, trying the food and drinks they ordered, but making a face at the taste of the beer. The door slammed open and a group of onis barged in. They swaggered over to a table, calling the barkeep for drinks, and eyeing the men.
“Hey there, handsome. How’d you like to have a little fun?” A red oni was looking straight at Daichi. Hiroko took hold of his arm, glaring at the oni. “Oopsie, looks like you’re taken. Hmm, well how about your friend?” Fujisawa was already far less lucid than he was. The oni walked over, picked him up and took him over to her table, where she offered him several drinks. Other men joined them, and by the time the party left, they were over double in number, all singing and laughing as they trooped out for the next bar.
“Fujisawa! Do you want us to walk you home?”
“”Ha! I’m going to see what these monsters are all about!” He yelled giddily.
“Well, hope that works out for him. He’ll have a hell of a headache. Shall we go home?” He took Hiroko’s hand, tipped the bartender, and they walked into the dark night, the wet streets reflecting the streetlights. It was drizzling, so he stepped closer to Hiroko, who took his arm, this time in a more relaxed manner. As they turned the corner, there was a shout.
“Stop right there!” He tried to ignore it, hoping the voice wasn’t talking to him. “You! Where do you think you’re going?” Daichi turned to face the speaker, and saw a large man standing a few meters away from him. “Yeah you. Bastard! Give me my umbrella!”
“What do you mean? I don’t have your”.
“Her! That woman you’re standing next to”.
“What could possibly make you think Hiroko here belongs to you?”
“Because that’s my family’s name hanging from the tag.” Daichi looked at the slip of paper. The name “Sugawara” was written in ink. The man’s claim was supported when Hiroko stared at him, stepping back and taking a tighter hold on his arm.
“Master, that is Hiroko’s old master. She remembers. But…”
“If Hiroko was yours to begin with, then you must remember dropping her on the side of the street? I found her after she was no longer wanted”.
“Well I’m here to take her back. Finally looks to be worth keeping around”. He leered at Hiroko. “And you better not try to stop me”. He pulled out a knife from his pocket. Daichi tried to step back, pulling Hiroko with him. He looked all around him, but there wasn’t anyone nearby. He was just thinking about trying to run, hoping they could get home in time, when Hiroko stood in front of him.
“You are not Hiroko’s master. Not after what you did. And you will not hurt her master either.” She closed her top, swallowing herself and Daichi. Daichi could hear the man swinging with his knife, but it was making a sound like hitting a metal surface. He stared at Hiroko, before pulling his phone out and calling the police. An officer arrived to take the man away, and Hiroko released them both.
“Hiroko that was amazing!”
“You are Hiroko’s master. Oorrr...Husband?. Hiroko will not let you be harmed”. They walked the rest of the way home in silence, hand in hand. Back at home, Hiroko pulled him right into the bedroom. “Master...Hiroko loves you.”
“I love you too Hiroko.” He held her close as they shared another kiss. The single cyclopean eye sitting on her canopy stared down at Daichi, it’s tongue stretching out to coil around him. Hiroko pulled the canopy down and now there was nothing to see but her face, her body, as Daichi stared into her eyes in wonder at the beautiful woman who lay in front of him. Hiroko opened her mouth in joy as she tasted Daichi’s body.
“I hope you’re ready, darling”.