Kaonaishi App

This… wasn’t right… the young girl glanced at her cellphone only to have the map blink out and fade to black as her device lost all power. “What? No…come on…” she hit the phone against her palm a bit but to no avail. Glancing around, the closely woven trees of the forest seemed only more threatening. She bit her lip and exhaled only to jump as a quick rustle caught her attention from behind. Turning- she noticed that nothing was there- but she still couldn’t find it in herself to relax.

“…R-Ryosuke…S-eriously this isn’t funny. Can’t we just go home? I-It’s so not real…S-So…” Her voice was way too shaky but she was hoping she’d hear Ryosuke’s laugh and for him to pop out and tell her they’d be heading back. She looked up hoping to see the sky but there were so many leaves and branches it all but blocked out whatever light would’ve been left. Checking her watch only made 2her heart drop more- it was late. Sun would finish setting soon and she would really be in trouble.

“Ryosuke! Come on… Let’s go already…p-please-“ Her voice caught in her throat when she turned to see a massive creature looming near her. Her mouth opened to scream but she couldn’t even muster a sound. Black eyes blinked and a red mouth widened to a smile to reveal blackened teeth.

“Hello there.” It said evenly, “What do we have here?”  the head tilted and slowly drew back, allowing the girl to take it all in. The creature was some sort of bug… or insect- she didn’t pay enough attention in biology to know what it would be properly called. But it reminded her of the mukade- a venomous Japanese centipede. But eight of the legs nearer to the face were elongated. What was so strange was despite the obvious monster-like appearance of the thing in front of her- it had a human-like face.

“It’s been a long, long time since I’ve had a human wander this close to my domain… what are you doing here, human?” slowly it lowered it’s body down the legs touching the ground while still staring at the girl.

“I….I-….I was just goi-“ The words wouldn’t form, would leave her lips in any proper manner. The creature frowned.

“Don’t go, we are just getting acquainted… after all I am sure this is the first time we’ve met- I would’ve remembered a pretty face like yours… so go on… what do you wish to know…?”

The girl looked at the monster in front of her and glanced around only to feel like the forest was slowly enclosing in on her. Sinking to the ground she felt like there was no hope… hopefully Ryosuke would come- but if he did what could he even do?

“W-What’s your name? W-Who chose it?” she finally asked, it seemed sentient enough- surely it would have a name. And if it was one she recognized from the books she often read for Japanese classes… maybe…maybe she’d recognize it.

“Oh…I have many names- I was given no name of my own unless you count the ridiculous ones that the humans have given me… Most call me Kaonaishi… for obvious reasons I would think…”

“K-Kaonaishi…” the girl repeated her heart was tight in her chest as she remembered Ryosuke excitedly telling her that he heard a legend of a yokai that lived in the mountains. No other details would come to mind- her fear had paralyzed what little thinking ability she had to count on, “So…w-what are you? A…mortal? I-Immortal?”

“Smart girl aren’t you?” Kaonaishi said impressed as it surveyed the scared human in front of it, “Trying to figure out if I can die… are you not?”

“N-no!” the lie came quickly enough, fear coating the word- surely if the monster thought she was trying to kill it- it would end her quickly. But the creature softly chuckled and let out a deep sigh,

“I am older than the islands you stand upon… I saw Izanami and Izanagi get married for the first time- and what a failed attempt that was. Even with the successful second attempt…. So I am old- I am afraid I will never die of old age- Immortality supposedly correct? But not completely… perhaps it is just in my nature that I am long-lived? How can I know what is mortal for me if I have never met another like me…?” Pausing ever so slightly, the creature seemed to observe the girl in front of it in before continuing, “It’s quite lonely you know…”

“Lonely? Y-you don’t have a family?” why was her voice still trembling so much? She had no idea… all she knew was that she was rather terrified of this thing in front of her. Every single fiber of her being was telling her to run, but she also knew this creature would be agile. What chance did she have?

“Oh no…no family. Would be nice I suppose… but I have memories of many families- the memories of the people who had families before I took them from the arms of those they loved or… merely proclaimed to love.”

Ryosuke, come on…please hurry… the desperate thought was ringing in her ears. Maybe this was a dream- or some nightmare- maybe Ryosuke and her had never gone to the stupid forest in the mountains. Her eyes were wide as she just stared at the monster before her- but Kaonaishi was unperturbed. Instead it tilted its head,

“Is something the matter?” it asked, only for her to shake her head. It sighed propping it’s head against one of the long legs, “Something is wrong- Do not try to fool me young one…” the faintest hint of impatience at the edge of it’s tone was all the girl needed to continue.

“…Y-you l-l-ook…s-sc…” again she was unable to complete the sentence. Kaonaishi drew itself up a bit more and took a closer look at the mortal girl- it’s eyes narrowed,

“That’s rather rude… “ it tsked, “I look scary- is what you were about to say? This is what I normally look like. Although… I suppose I could change to be more like a spider or more like a centipede… is that to your liking?” It waited, watching the girl only for the smile to widen as she shook her head harder- faster. The glisten of fresh tears in her eyes was exciting and oh-so enticing,

“Oh, I know you didn’t mean to be rude…” It said soothingly as it relaxed back down, “Most humans are just like you- more comfortable with things they know…things that look like them. You know… my face is human. Isn’t that enough? I can change it too. Look,”

Almost in an instant instead of the noh mask there was a face of a Japanese woman, her brown eyes were wide, scanning the girl in front of her. Dark brown hair framed her pale skin, making almost a weird wall between the unnatural monster and the human appearance she seemed to have.

“Is that better?” Kaonaishi asked, its voice now taking on a light feminine quality to it. The face changed again- this time to that of a male foreigner. Dark skin looked so similar in color to that of the body and hazel eyes stared out- the brow furrowed in confusion, “Or how about this?” Kaonaishi asked, its voice taking on a deeper tone, clearly male and strong at that.

“S-Stop…P-please…” the girl gasped, her stomach was turning with nausea. How could a creature do that? Create such life-like faces on it’s body. Something was off... something was so horribly wrong and she couldn’t shake off the feeling that this was going to be it for her.

“Oh…come now… even then you don’t like me? Even then I am scary? Such a curse I must say…” Kaonaishi said rather sadly- it’s original voice had now returned and in an instant so did the strange mask-like face that it wore before, “My face is my prized possession. Or should I say- faces. I’m a collector you know… and I am quite proud of how many I’ve accumulated…”

“I-It’s ok…I…trust you.” She said, slowly scootching away from the yokai before her.
“Do you now?” Kaonaishi didn't move, instead its eyes followed her movements, this [i]was[/i] amusing…

“Y-yes…d-don’t show me anymore…p-please…”

“Very well then, I won’t. Although I wondered if I had transformed my body into theirs if it would’ve put you at ease. Once I gain a face- I gain everything there is about them. I gain their lives, their memories, their bodies and voices. Well- almost everything. I don’t gain their powers… I suppose the Gods had to keep some things out of my reach…”

“P-powers…R-Right…” the girl bit her lip and reached out to grab a hold of a tree trunk. She used it to provide support to help her stand up. It was getting later… what little light that filtered through the tree tops was almost gone. Which meant the dangerous situation… was going to get even worse. Ryosuke might’ve already gone back home thinking he’d see her there… she had to go meet him. Kaonaishi shifted ever so slightly, causing her muscles to tense again as she leaned against the tree.

It liked talking… she should….ask it more questions….r-right? Um…think…think…what….questions do you ask a spirit…a yokai… whatever this thing was…

“U-Um… when you look at a glass of water- is it half empty or half full….?” She asked only to wish she could kick herself. Where on earth did that question come from?? However, the creature’s eyes were wide with surprise, it hadn’t been expecting that… that was good- right?

“Hm… I normally do not drink from glasses- I am afraid I am a bit…unrefined compared to you humans… however… I don’t suppose the glass matters. Half-full, half-empty… what counts is what is inside… the precious gift you are trying to quantify. I suppose if pressured I’d guess half-empty… when it runs out it is gone… so it is better to look at how much you have to lose…” red lips curled up into a smile as it finished it’s answer.


“And…if you could go back in time- would you? W-where to?” the girl asked quickly, hesitant to let the monster have a moment to take action.

“Another strange question… you become more interesting to me by the second, Megumi.” It said with a grin. The girl stiffened. How did it know her name? She exhaled,

“S-So…t-the answer then?” she asked weakly- her mind now racing for answers… how on earth did it know her name?

“I don’t think I would. I live in the memories of olden times as much as it is. I have at least a dozen faces per decade…if not more. With each face I have their memories… their lives. Not just from Japan but from everywhere… I am far more interested in what the future holds…not just for me… but for those I also come across. What about you?”

“What?” Megumi blinked in disbelief- was the monster seriously asking her a question, “I-It’s none of your business!” She said quickly, but Kaonaishi lifted itself up and drew extremely close to her so it’s face was level with hers. Megumi pressed herself against the tree her scream cutting off as her eyes met with the irisless black eyes of the yokai.

“You could use more manners, we were getting along so well… “ It sighed. “You remind me of the people I used to steal faces from…” Its voice was even as it studied the trembling mortal in front of it. Drawing back it motioned with one of its legs, “Go on…answer my question.”

“…I just want to go home,” She said her voice nearly cracking.

“And do you think you will?” Kaonaishi asked its face betraying no emotion to indicate the correct answer.

“M-Maybe…” Megumi finally whispered, “M-Maybe…R-Ryosuke h-he is looking f-for me. W-We-“

“You came to my domain to search for me. You walked from your home… into mine. All in the quest to find me…” Kaonaishi finished; curling its lower body around itself it settled back down into its relaxed position, “In a way I suppose I feel honored… But found me you have. So I supposed congratulations are in order- even though… I could’ve sworn I heard you say… I wasn’t real. I wasn’t expecting that to hurt so much. Have I changed your mind?”

“O-Of course you have- I didn’t mean to –“

“Of course you didn’t…” It sighed with a small hum, “What else don’t you believe in….God?”

“I-I believe….” Megumi said slowly, “But what sort of God would’ve created you?”

“The ones at the very beginning- not all in creation is meant to be beautiful, it just can’t be helped. But regardless, we all serve and have a purpose. Though I sometimes wonder if the Kami can even stop me now…” Kaonaishi’s lips pulled back into a smile once again- but the blackened teeth now seemed almost sharper than the last time.

“I-I believe t-they can…” Megumi whispered, desperately trying to cling to something…a hope…perhaps by believing in the Kami they would come and save her. They had to be real- If something like this monster was. A tear slowly fell, rolling down her cheek, followed by another.

Kaonaishi tilted its head sniffing the air, relishing the subtle scent of salt from her tears. “Why are you crying, Megumi?” It asked, its voice soft.

Sniffling Megumi shook her head, “W-Why wouldn’t I cry?”

“I suppose you must be feeling despair…misery… but you haven’t been consumed by it. I’d be able to tell…I always can tell. Such emotions are delectable delights- and ones that are easy to spur in humans like yourself. When I peruse memories of the people I’ve devoured… I can get- hints… lingering flavors of meals past… delicious.” It said with a hum, “Although this is all speculation for me…”

“Is it now?” Megumi asked, her voice a bit steely, she sniffled again. She wasn’t going to let it get her too down- it had mentioned liking despair and misery… if she kept at it…if she didn’t fall further into hopelessness…maybe…maybe there was hope. Kaonaishi chuckled causing Megumi to stare at the creature looming before her.

“You are so intriguing to me- right when you began to emit the lovely emotions I so crave- you’ve taken it away from me. Are you trying to tease me?”

“D-Does it matter?” She asked, her voice coming shakily as she tried to keep strong, “What are you going to do about it? Cry?”

“Megumi you are growing so much ruder… it’s not very like you… perhaps danger brings out this side to you- it's a good skill to have I suppose…” The creature lamented before sighing, “I wouldn’t see why I would cry… I have gone through periods lacking- but even then I survived… I’ve never had a reason to cry in all my years of living.