kozu

written by H_a_r_u

Kozu and his parents were just returning home from dinner. They weren’t that close but they did make the effort to spend time as a family at least once a week. The family’s guards were up as they walked the eerily silent and dark road. No, it wasn’t the dark that had them cautious. It was the people out of sight, the ones who were watching their every move, which made them cautious.

Suddenly the people hidden decided to move and without missing a beat the family began to run. Kozu’s father had grabbed his hand and held onto him while they ran. Sadly Kozu was merely an 8 years old child. His feet were too tiny to keep up with his parents. And his parents knew this. That was why they had abruptly stopped. His dad took a stance in front of them. He had a gun in his hand and was aiming it at their pursuers. Where did the gun come from? Kozu doesn’t know.

“Kozu, listen to me. You have to get away. You have to escape. These people’s aim is to wipe out our family and that can’t happen. That’s why you need to run, hide, your father and I will stay here and stall them. Take care, my child. Now go!” His mother had said to him before she took out a gun that was strapped to her thighs, covered by the black dress she was wearing.

Kozu heeded his mother’s words and began running. He ran and ran, ignoring all the gunshots that came from behind him. When he was closing in on their house, Kozu dared to look behind him. A man was still following him. His parents weren’t in sight. That could mean two things. One they were being held in place by their pursuers or two this man chasing him had gotten rid of them.

Kozu pushed himself to run faster as the man began to close in on him. He pushed open their house door. Had they left it open? He ran up to his room, locking his door and moving everything he could to block it. He knew it wouldn’t hold long. That was why he quickly grabbed the occult book he had recently finished reading. He flipped to the page he hoped could help him, then he grabbed one of his chalks and began hastily copying the pentagram on the page. When he finished drawing, he took a pair of scissors and cut himself with it. He allowed the wound to continue bleeding as the blood pooled on the pentagram.

He hoped this would work. He really hoped it did, if it didn’t he would meet his end by this man’s hand. The pentagram glowed and out came what he assumed to be a demon. Kozu stared at her in amazement. She had fur as black as the night sky with colorful patterns littered all over it.

“How may I be of service, summoner? My name is Tesu” She said, bowing her head. Then she looked up and her eyes flew open.

“A young child has summoned me?” She asked no one in particular. Kozu snapped out of his amazement when he heard banging from the other side of the door.

“Please, you have to help me. That man is planning to kill me.” Kozu said as his body shook. No it wasn’t out of fear. He wasn’t scared. It was simply because all the running and the suddenness of the situation had shaken him a bit.

“What in the world happen?” Tesu asked. She knew for a fact that Kozu wasn’t scared. If he was then she wouldn’t even be able to stand right now. After all, her powers depended on her summoner’s mental strength.

“My mother said that they were out to wipe out our family. Our bloodline. That man needs me dead to accomplish that. Please do everything in your power to kill him.” He instructed his body still shaking but his eyes held an unimaginable amount of determination.

“Alright. I understand. Now you go hide while I deal with the bastard.” Tesu said. Kozu nodded him head and crawled under his bed. And with great timing the man successfully broke down the door and entered the room.

“Hand over the kid and I won’t have to hurt you.” The man said. In one swift movement, Tesu lunged forward and stabbed the man with her claws. The man’s eyes went wide as he looked down at his impaled stomach. Tesu pulled out her claws as blood gushed out. The man looked back up at Tesu before he fell to the ground, lifeless.

“So where do you wanna go now kid?” Tesu asked as Kozu began crawling out.  He looked at her in confusion. The two of them weren't remotely bothered that a dead body was near them.

“I mean, you’re a human and I’m a demon, I can’t exactly take care if you and you probably aren’t allowed to live by yourself considering you’re still quite young.” Tesu explained.

“We can go to Nyxomi.” Kozu said.

“Who’s Nyxomi?” Tesu asked.

“She’s a family friend. I can lead the way there.” Kozu answered and with that the pair made their way to Nyxomi’s house.

Kozu was about to knock on Nyxomi’s door when it suddenly opened revealing Nyxomi. She was dressed in pants and an oversized hoodie.

“Are you going somewhere?” Kozu asked.

“Yeah, I was heading to the convenience store.” Nyxomi answered out of habit, a result of years spent answering Kozu’s questions.

“Wait. That isn’t important. What the hell happened to you?!” She exclaimed, finally recovering from the shock of seeing a messy Kozu in front her doorstep, with someone who isn’t human.

“No- hang on- Don’t answer that yet- first of all come inside, so we can tidy you up.” Nyxomi said as she stepped aside to allow Kozu and his companion in.

It was going to be a long night.