I Fell In Love With A Girl Who Died Before I Was Even Born

The double front doors creaked open as we stepped into the morning light. A low mist curled around the edges of the stone path like it hadn't decided whether it wanted to stay or evaporate. Natsumi skipped ahead, trailing a faint cloud of fruity vape mist behind her like a misbehaving parade float.

Ahead, I saw Shion was already waiting by the front gate, one foot kicked up against the wall, arms crossed. Her eyes flicked up when she saw me—and then narrowed when they landed on Natsumi.

"Oh?" she said, voice low and smooth like she was picking a fight out of curiosity. "And what's this? Bringing the cat to class now?"

I rubbed the back of my neck.

I hadn't even considered how I was going to explain this. In fact, the thought hadn't even occurred to me that I'd need to explain anything.

"I thought maybe we could… I don't know. Bring people together?"

Shion rolled her eyes.

Yeah, that sounded pretty lame.

"I helped you, right?" I started, trying a different angle "I'm figuring out how to help Yuki. Natsumi was bored hanging around the onsen all day."

Shion raised her eyebrow, skeptically.

"You're helping Yuki?" she asked.

I heard Yuki sniff defensively before floating closer to my side.

"At least I'm not constantly taking from him."

Natsumi grinned and gave a lazy spin, tails trailing. "Natsumi likes watching American-jin," she said to Shion. "Natsumi likes watching American-jin. He's like stray cat, but dumber. You never know if he'll fall off roof or summon demon by accident."

Shion smirked. "Great. Natsumi's given you a nickname. Blondie wasn't humiliating enough?"

"Hey," I said. "It's not like that."

Natsumi rolled her eyes and gave Shion an approving nod. "Natsumi likes dark-haired girl. Very sarcastic and bitey. She calls American-jin after silly Sunday comic strip."

Shion nodded at Natsumi.

"Yeah, that's right," she said. "Blondie and Dagwood. Good catch."

"Do all girls here bust American-jin's balls?" Natsumi asked.

"Hey!" I said again.

I pointed towards my ghost girl.

"Yuki doesn't!" I said.

"Not out loud," Yuki added calmly.

I turned and gave her a look, but she just smiled sweetly like the morning was hers alone.

"We have more important things to do," she said.

"Yeah," Shion muttered. "Like breakfast. I need it. Pronto."

"I need help training," Yuki said, floating closer to me. "Ryu still doesn't know what he's doing. He needs support."

"Isn't that what Hibana's for?" Shion asked, brushing some stray hair behind her ear.

"She's taking the morning off," Yuki replied.

"American-jin got stoned," Natsumi added helpfully.

Then she took a long drag from her vape to punctuate the point.

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Shion gave me a long look. "Am I about to get high from drinking your blood?"

Oh man, how was I supposed to know?

"I… don't know," I admitted.

Natsumi exhaled a cloud of smoke and looked at Shion. She exhaled slowly, smoke curling like incense. "Only one way to find out," she said, grinning like she already knew the answer.

Shion sighed dramatically. "Of course. What's the worst that could happen?"

Yuki crossed her arms.

"Ryu still needs to train, Shion."

Anger flashed across the vampire's eyes at being denied her breakfast, but then Yuki spoke again.

"Just listen," she began.

Yuki hovered closer, her voice low and distant, like the mist itself. "There's a place I know. A shrine. Quiet. Hidden. Perfect for training."

"We don't have time," Shion snapped, already grumbling about breakfast.

"Then make time," Yuki said.

I cleared my throat. "I've got wings."

It was worth it just to see the look on Shion's face.

"Say no more," said Shion.

She took her bike, wrapped a lock around it, securing it to the onsen's iron fence, and turned back around.

"Yuki. The trail. Take us."

Yuki led the way, silent as a ghost.

We followed a narrow trail just past the onsen. The stones gave way to soft moss and packed earth. It wound through the trees like it had been waiting for us. At the end was a torii gate, and beyond that a small clearing, half-forgotten, nestled in a cradle of green.

The sakura trees had just begun to bloom.

Petals drifted on the breeze like forgotten promises, spinning gently through the air. The light was soft. The world felt distant. Like it had decided to give us five minutes of peace before something horrible happened again.

That, or I was still feeling the THC from Natsumi's mango vape.

Shion stepped into the clearing first. She stretched her arms, cracked her neck, and exhaled like she was about to hit the gym instead of… whatever this was.

"All right, Blondie. Let's get this over with."

I didn't move. I just nodded.

She walked toward me, slow, deliberate. One cold hand pressed to my shoulder. She leaned in, her breath warm against my skin. Her lips brushed my neck.

"Try not to moan," she whispered, winking.

"Wait! We're training first, right?"

Then she bit.

A sharp sting. Then heat. Then something else.

Something... emotional. Like she was drinking pieces of my memory along with the blood. The pressure pulsed through me like a strange rhythm I didn't recognize but couldn't ignore. My legs buckled slightly, and I leaned on her to keep from falling.

Her hands caught me. She didn't say anything.

When she pulled back, her fangs were stained, and her eyes were glowing faintly.

"Well," she said, voice a little breathier than usual. "That was... potent."

"Did you get high?" Natsumi asked, leaning forward with the energy of a caffeinated goblin.

Shion wiped her mouth and smiled slowly. "Not high. But I definitely saw some weird shit."

I didn't ask what she saw. I wasn't ready.

Yuki drifted closer. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I said. "Just tired."

The petals kept falling, like soft rain. They didn't need to make a sound.

"Are you ready, Blondie?" Shion asked, rolling her shoulders.

I shook my head.

"Give me a second," I said.

Inwardly, I already felt my "wings," now that Murasaki taught me how to fold and unfold them.

Black dragon wings: large, leathery, reptilian.

Inhuman.

They might look cool, but I hated them.

They felt gross, like a layer of scaley skin stitched along my spine. And I was supposed to accept that as part of me?

I took a breath, held my arms up in a V, and then I let my wings unfurl.

It felt like a second skeleton, hidden just beneath my skin, unfolding.

And as the wings snapped into place—wet, cold, and awful—I hated them.

And I needed them.

And I think that's why I hated them more.

Shion took a breath and whistled. Natsumi just grinned and hit her vape.

"American-jin has wings like bird," she purred. "Congratulations. I prefer cat."

Shion scoffed at Natsumi.

"Are you seeing this?" she asked, amazed. "Oh my god! They're huge!"

Yuki floated to my side straight away.

"Are you okay?" she asked. "You made a face when they came out."

I nodded.

"Can you fly?" asked Shion, stepping closer.

I grinned.

"I believe I can fly," I said.

Shion took a breath and laughed.

"That's so lame!"

Natsumi wheezed.

"Ten out of ten. Cringe and perfect," she said.

Above us, the petals kept falling, soft, silent, uncaring. Like they didn't notice the monster in their midst.

"So how the hell am I supposed to train you if I don't even know how to fly?" Shion asked, hands on her hips.

"And more importantly, when are you going to take me flying like Howl and Sophie?"

I should've said something clever. Instead, I just nodded, pretending I got the reference.

Yuki floated beside me.

"We can go flying together," she said, her eyes bright and earnest.

Shion scoffed.

Yuki tilted her head. "Wait… can't you just turn into a bat?"

Shion rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful. "I am not a Pokémon."

Natsumi spat out a laugh.

"Ghost-girl doesn't get Pokémon. Tragic," she muttered, puffing her vape like it was a eulogy.

Shion shrugged.

"Like I care."

Yuki sighed darkly.

"We're not helping Ryu! If you can't help him fly, then what good are you?" she asked.

Even Shion looked shocked.

Then she narrowed her eyes and rolled up her sleeves.

"What good am I?" she snarled. "I'll show you what I can do!"

Then she pointed a clawed finger at me.

"Watch your ass, Blondie, 'cause here I come!"