It was just an ordinary day and I had set off to school half an hour early as usual so as to take the long route and avoid the spirits who tried to eat me on a regular basis. The only downside of this route was it involved going through the richer part of town which happens to be home to one of the idiots in my class Akira.

There was a long list of things Akira didn't like about me and for some reason he felt the need to let the entire class know these reasons on a regular basis. Growing up in a care home not even to mention my unlucky experience with spirits meant that I had experiencend my fair share of bullying as I grew up so none of what he said or did really meant anything to me, which just seemed to make him dislike me more. 

Walking as fast as I could past him before he had time to say anything to me I picked up my pace, not that it mattered to him, him being several times larger than me and all. Quickly catching up he grabbed my bag pulling me back "who said you were allowed to walk round here you freak? Last thing I want to see is your ugly face in the morning." staying quiet I nodded my head and moved to leave. 

Before he grabbed me back again "I asked you a question freak, I deserve a proper answer don't you think?" sighing I was just about to act scared and pretend to agree when all of a sudden my blood went cold. Suddenly spinning around I looked behind a surprised Akira and saw where the source of my discomfort was coming from. 

About ten meters down the road stood a thin woman dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono her face shrouded by a parosel, she was a spirit and a bad one at that "Akira," I said in a horse voice "run away now!" at first Akira just looked at me in disbelief "Who the hell do you think your ordering around you parentless freak?!?!" I looked at him again in the eyes, I had only had this feeling about a spirit once before and the attack it dealt me left me in hospital for two weeks "please," I said "I'm begging you." 

Akira suddenly looked at me in surprise and stopped protesting, probably because for all he'd ever done to me I don't think I'd ever begged him for anything before "tch, this is boring anyway I'll continue this later at school." looking as Akira walked out of my line of sight I sighed in relief and walked towards the spirit, if she was as bad as the last one running away wouldn't help me much anyway it would be better to just get it over with. 

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"What do you want?" I asked as I approached the spirit "kukuku now this is interesting you actually sent the boy away despite knowing what would happen if he stayed, don't you want to see him hurt?" I shook my head as I looked at the spirit "he's an idiot but I don't want him dead." the spirit laughed again and then lifted her parosel up revealing her face. 

Despite her slim and elegant body her face was a horrendous mess of scars and teeth "well then I will trade his life for yours, you look tastier anyway, and it's been a while since I got to eat one who could see us." smiling creeping she started to move closer too me and my blood ran cold once more, mustering all my strength I punched her in the face and ran for it. 

Dropping to the floor clutching her aching face she started to scream at me "You insolent brat you will pay for what you have done!" running as fast as I could I ran quickly towards the nearest building which happened to be a shrine, crossing into the shrine I saw the enraged spirit on the other side of shrine gate screaming in frustration you may be protected by the barrier for now but I'll get you eventually!" still muttering curses the spirit walked off hiding once again under her parosel. 

Slumping down onto the ground I sighed on relief at my near escape, this was unexpected I'd never seen a spirit stop before it must be something to do with the shrine. Unfortunately though the spirit was right I'd have to leave sometime and when I did nothing good would come of it sighing again this time in despair I started to sprint towards the school. If I'd known what would've happened next however, I think I would have just stayed at the shrine.