Supernatural Investigation 101: Chronicles Of Nakashima Wakana

"There is an important conjunction this month too." Nova tells her, "It only happens once in 800 years. The walls between the realms will be weaker."

"So, he can come back?" Wakana blinks her eyes. "No, I can't let that happen. He will hurt Toru."

Tribus nods his head. 

"I have to stop him " Wakana looks down at her hands in frustration. "Why does this never end? I am tired of him."

"Handling exes can be troublesome." Nova pats her shoulder. "Especially, when it's a devil."

"Besides, Devils are…" Tribus exhales, "Good old days when there was only one."

"So what will you do?" Quin asks. "Will you take up our offer or wander here until the end of the time?"

"Is there going to be a contract?" Wakana squints her eyes. "I was fooled by reapers once."

"They hate anyone who makes them work extra hours." Nova laughs. "Although, they have to work all the time."

"Nova, pity them." Quin chides her, "We are lucky that we aren't reapers."

"Reapers will get the chance to reincarnate someday." Tribute mutters, "Unlike us."

"They will get good lives." Nova lets out a sigh. "I just want to go to Haven, Wakana. Help me get rid of the things that are binding me here."

"It's not difficult at all." Quin assures Wakana, "You just have to --"

"Remove the things that bind you to the mortal world." Wakana waves her hands. "I get it. But how will you help me?"

"In the past, we have taken this." Quin extends his palm. On his palm, he reveals a small vial that is glistening with a milky liquid. "One drop of this and those creatures won't be able to sense you anymore."

"Really?" She frowns, clearly doubtful of the content of the vials. "Have you taken this?"

"Yes, I did." Quin replies patiently, "There is one problem: nobody will be able to sense you unless you make your presence known. Even the gods won't be able to sense you. You can't do much either. It's like… you will become invisible to the world."

"Unless you make your presence known." Nova interjects, "Which is not difficult at all."

"Not difficult." Tribus tilts his head. "Not difficult."

"Just like I could sense you when you appeared before me?" Wakana stares at them. "But I can't sense you sometimes when you appear out of nowhere?"

"It's more complicated than that…" Tribus smiles awkwardly. "You see, you are special and you are a forsaken creature too."

"Even Goddess Abyss couldn't sense our presence." Quin adds, "But you still have soul energy. So…"

"You still have a chance at life, but we don't." Nova grins at her. "Can't you help us? We are tired of this life. At first, we thought that living like this was fine."

"But Haven is a good place."

"I want to live like a normal person."

"Everyone I know is gone."

"Except for --"

"Okay." Wakana raises her hands. "I will accept your request if you are completely honest about everything. Does your request involve hurting someone?"

They become quiet. Wakana makes a face. So, it does involve that.

"Does this liquid have a side effect?"

They remain quiet. Wakana exhales, exasperated. 

"Can Devils sense me if I take this liquid?"

"No." Nova starts, "Nobody can sense you, Wakana. Not even devils."

"That's not bad, I guess." Wakana scratches her chin. "What is the side effect?"

"Well, the side effect is…" Nova hesitates, "You might become one of the watchers."

"Huh?" Wakana creases her forehead. "What does that mean?"

"It's not confirmed, but someone has to watch over the river." Nova releases a low laugh. "And you might have to come here from time to time and make sure that what should remain in the water is still in the water."

"And you can do it whenever you are guiding a soul." Tribus says, "It's not a difficult job."

"And you will get these suits." Quin points at his suit. "They are quite comfortable."

"You mean that I will lose my face." Wakana gasps. "Nobody will be able to see my face. I will be a faceless woman."

"How did you figure that out?" Nova exclaims. "We didn't say that at all."

"Aish! She is smarter than she looks," Que mutters.

"It's not bad being faceless." Tribus lets out a low laugh awkwardly. "But you won't join the ranks straight away. Look! It's not bad at all. You are free to go anywhere. Besides, you can see our faces. I am sure that others will be able to see your faces too."

"I don't want to kill anyone either." Wakana holds her head. "I can't believe that I nearly fell for this. It was too good to be true."

"Wakana!" Nova holds her hands. "Don't you want to see and hold your son again?"

"You can live with them if you take this liquid," Tribus claims. "You don't have to kill anyone alive either."

"You don't affect the livings like we do. So, you can stay in the mortal world for a long time," Quin points out. "It's only about being seen. A few people won't be able to see your face. What's so bad about it?"

"I don't want to freak out my son." Wakana tells them scornfully, "What will Min Ho say? He won't be able to gaze into my eyes."

"..." 

"..."

"..." 

"He's not gazing into your eyes right now." Que snaps back at her, "Dumb human! If you don't go back, you won't be able to be with your family ever. Your child will be taken away by the devil. If I were you, I would take any poison to be with my family."

"But…" Wakana falters, "I don't want to hurt anyone."

"Fine. Fine." Tribus gives her a wide smile. "You don't have to kill anyone or hurt anyone."

"Just find any means to cut the connection between us and the mortal world." Nova blinks her eyes happily. "It won't be hard. We are also forsaken creatures, but there are just a few things that can't be broken by us."

"Perks of the job." Quin sighs. "Demerits of the same job."

Wakana inhales sharply. The ugly bird is right. If she remains stuck here, she won't be able to be with her family.

Besides, she isn't signing any papers. So, it should be fine, right?