9 Meeting with teacher

Slam!

"Mako, stop slamming the table, you disturbing my drama time!" Akira, with his smartphone in his hand, looked at Mako opposite him with annoyance.

It was the next day after the encounter with Kamen.

Akira had reported the encounter to his grandfather, but what he got in return was to wait because it would be reckless to act without a proper plan against an enemy with a scheme.

His grandfather's advice was 'Be ready for the next time, since that Yoma ought to take your life, there must be someone behind it and it will come back with a vengeance.'

Akira accepted his grandfather's suggestion but not Mako. She preferred to take things to her hand rather than waiting for the enemy's arrival. She'd rather spent efforts digging the bastard Yoma out than waiting in the enemy's pace.

However, just like what Shinzo said, the encounter was too short and going after an unknown enemy blindfolded was dangerous. Any slight misstep would result in dire consequences, and Mako wished not to increase the casualty count.

Despite not knowing who instructed Kamen to attack them, Mako had theories of herself.

First, she must find out what Kamen's abilities were, and then the motive behind the attack.

"Help me figure out the details from the encounter." said Mako.

"Can we do it after I finish this episode?" Akira asked.

What he got in reply was Mako's fierce glare, and growls from the two shikigamis, Fu and Rai, beside her.

"Fine. Where should we start then… What about Kamen's mask?"

"The mask… The mask on that Ken's guy and the dead hostess? The masks seems to be part of Kamen's ability but the looks are a little bit different. The one on Ken's looked angry and the one on the dead hostess looked... joyful?" Mako deduced.

"Angry...Joyful...Hmmm…" Akira squinted his eyes in deep thoughts. "Angry... Joyful… Angry...Joyful... Anger... Joy? Sorrow and Happiness?"

"The basic emotions? If that's the case, that Yoma known as Kamen can possess people with masks representing the basic emotions?" Sudden realization hit Mako as Akira related the terms with the emotions of humans.

Kamen has control over human emotion: Anger, Joy, Sorrow and Happiness. It was able to smoothly possess Ken back in his apartment because of his hot-temper. After being possessed, the characteristic of the mask will resonate with the host's traits, fueling it with malevolence and produced more energy for the host.

"The mask on Ken was Anger; the mask on the dead hostess was Joy. If that Yoma really has control over the emotions, meaning it has two more masks under its sleeve? Would it possess more people next time it appears?" Mako looked at Akira.

"No wonder I was able to annoy that Yoma so easily, it's because of its short-tempered, hence lower patience. If you are right, we can expect the possessed to increase next time, maybe one or two more, depending on the Yoma's mood." said Akira with opened hands.

"But there's still something I don't understand. Why did the Yoma possess the dead hostess with an extra mask to secure it's escape? Why didn't it just leave the host body and fly away, why waste another 'life'? We saw the Joy mask disintegrated from the dead hostess right?"

Mako was still baffled about how things unfolded last night.

"Maybe the Yoma liked the body? Like you know, there are many past cases spirits tend to linger around a single person. I guess it isn't easy to find someone with that much anger to possess." Akira voiced his deduction.

"Sounds about right. I guess we'll just have to find out the next time." The questions in Mako's head did not meet any answers, but there wasn't any more lead she could go on with, hence she temporarily shelved it.

"Look at the time! I got to go now! I have a meeting with Taka before he returns to college tomorrow!" Akira tapped on his smartphone and saw the time, he nervously stood up and went out.

"Okay, I'll update you if I got anything." said Mako as she watched Akira put on his shoes and walked out the door with a wave. "Well then, let's play shall we?" Mako looked down at her shikigami Fu and Rai.

The spirit foxes looked up with anticipation.

Mako was interested to know how far could her shikigami grow, so training with them was essential.

...

Akira stepped out of the train and then went out of the station. Taka was waiting for him at the exit.

"Akira, here! You are almost late, what took you so long? I thought I reminded you yesterday?" Taka waved at Akira and ranted a little.

"Sorry, sorry, Mako was nagging at me, I had to sneak out while she's asleep!" Akira said in a joking and apologetic tone.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you and your lame jokes. Come on, if we walk faster, we can still be on time!" Taka then dragged Akira away.

Both of them were going to meet their high school teacher, Domon.

It has been a few years since they graduated from high school and Domon was an old-fashioned person, he was reluctant to accept new technologies, so Akira and Taka managed to stay in contact via letter at first.

However, after Domon retired from teaching and moved back to his hometown, Akira and Taka lost contact with him.

It was actually one of their schoolmates who coincidentally bumped into the teacher during vacation and reconnected with him. Domon finally caught up with the trend after a year and bought an old smartphone with mail sending function.

The schoolmate then sent the teacher's contact to everyone else, and Akira and Taka managed to get in touch with the teacher after a year or so.

Since Taka was busy with his medical college and Akira with his training to inherit the shrine, they hadn't got the chance to meet up.

It was until a few days ago the teacher mailed them and said he would be stopping by for a family visit, so he asked whether Taka would like to meet up.

Taka saw this as a chance since he was back for holiday, he brought along Akira with him.

The meeting venue was a coffee shop a few stations away from the shrine.

Akira and Taka finally arrived and they were just in time, 2 p.m. was the promised time for the meeting.

They stepped in and identified their high school teacher at first glance.

Daisuke Domon, 60 years old retired teacher. He was easily recognized because of his bald head and had been wearing the same old brown coat since his teaching days. Even in the summer, he'd wear it around.

"Domon-sensei!" Taka called out to the man.

"Oh, Taka, Akira, here here!" Domon waved at the two and invited them to sit down.

"Sensei, it's been a while since we met!" Taka said.

"Good afternoon sensei, long time no see." Akira was rather calm.

"Hahaha, it's great to see my students still recognized me after graduating, it really warms my heart." Domon laughed wholeheartedly, because of his age, the wrinkles at the edge of his eyes were obvious when he smiled.

"How could we forget? Sensei you have been wearing that brown coat since forever!" Akira joked.

"Hahahaha, Akira, I see you are still humorous as ever! If we are still in school, I'd give you extra homework for that!" Domon returned the joke with another wholeheartedly smile.

"Please spare me sensei!" Akira bitterly laughed.

"How could we forget? Without sensei, Akira and I might not even graduate high school all together, let alone entering medical college!" Taka added.

"Oh, I see your hardwork has rewarded you well, Taka!" Domon said in surprise.

"Well, I'm not as successful as Taka, I'm just working hard to inherit the shrine from my grandfather." Akira said casually.

"It's a blessing to have a wealthy family, but never forget your truest intention, otherwise being blessed might turn out to be a curse." Domon reminded Akira.

"Sensei, you are still you after all these years, always trying to teach some sense in me." Akira returned a smile.

"I remember you'd always run away whenever I started to nag back then and Taka will drag you back to me!" said Domon.

"Yeah, he always used our friendship to pull me back to your teaching." Akira frivolously looked at Taka.

"You bet I did, if it wasn't for me and Domon-sensei's high-spirited teaching, after you stopped school for a year, you would never catch up to the syllabus, let alone graduate alongside me!" Taka said.

"I'm just doing what I can to help Akira, it's his talents in studying that gets him through the blank year and also your deep friendship that guided him through. I guess you both are my best students this far, I'm really happy for both of you." Domon smiled deeply, he was truly moved by his students and happy for their success in life.

Akira and Taka looked at each other with a smile.

Food and drinks were ordered as they continued to chat with each other.

The trio continued to chat with while waiting for the food and drinks to serve.

Taka talked about his studies in medical college and the difficulties he faced in his studies and Domon would give him advice to overcome the hurdles. Akira on the other hand sat quietly and listened to the meaningful conversation, his life as an exorcist for the shrine wasn't something that he could discuss openly. Still he'd participated in the conversation from time to time, he was more of a listener than a talker.

The little reunion lasted for around 2 hours. After the last piece of cake was eaten and tea was finished, Akira asked for the bill.

"Let me get the bill this time, consider it as a present from me! Although I don't know when is the next time we will meet again, I'll be looking forward to it. I hope you boys can be closer to your dreams the next time we meet, especially you Akira, don't let all those raw talent go to waste, polish them into the brightest diamond!"

"O-Oh, okay, I won't let you down!"

Akira replied with a smile while touching his nose.

However, when all three of them got up from the table, Taka and Akira noticed something.

Domon actually had a walking stick with him and had to rely on it to stand and walk.

The discovery was surprising news for the boys, especially when Domon was once the consultant of their high school soccer club.

"Sensei, you…" Taka looked at the retractable walking stick in a rather unsettling gaze.

"This? It's been over a year now… Let's talk outside."

Domon slowly walked out the coffee shop with Akira and Taka behind him.

The three of them walked to the corner of the coffee shop and Domon turned around to the boys.

"After I retired from teaching, me and my wife moved back to our hometown in the rural areas for our retirement. But we got into a car accident when we are moving back... The car accident took my wife and crippled me for life." Sadness flashed over Domon's eyes as he spoke, it felt like something was broken beyond repair underneath the kind and warm look of his.

"Sensei, I'm sorry about that. I'm too selfish just now for talking all about my college, I should have showed more concern!" Taka apologized for his insensitive side.

"It's nothing. It's not your fault that I get in an accident, besides I don't want you boys to get sad because of an old man. Don't worry about me, I've moved on to a new life now and I made a new friend with this guy." Domon tapped on his walking stick, there was a smile on his face but more sadness would flash over his eyes and it made his smile look forced.

"Sensei…"

"Don't worry about it Taka, Domon-sensei is a strong guy, he used to chase me around the field when I tried to escape his nagging, so I'm sure holding a walking stick won't slow him down in life." Akira cut in and tapped on Taka's shoulder.

"See, that's the spirit! You are always filled with hope and delight Akira, I'm glad to be your sensei!" Domon laughed. "Okay then, I have a train to catch, don't think of walking me to the station, I can walk just fine, just a little bit slow. I'll see you boys next time!" Domon then turned around, waving as he walked away.

Akira and Taka waved back. Taka looked rather sad as he watched the teacher he respected limped away.

"Don't be sad for him, it's more of an insult than sympathy. Domon-sensei used to be a strong man, and still is. He used to teach us to be strong, so I guess he is holding himself as an example for us. The best thing for you to do is to study hard and become a doctor, don't let him down, got it?" Akira encouraged Taka, he didn't want his friend to be sad because of something that was out of his control.

"I guess you are right. I really admire how positive you are at times." Taka replied with a relieved smile.

"I'm born positive! I'm going to meet Mayuri next, wanna tag along?" Akira looked at his watch and remembered he agreed to meet Mayuri after this.

"Are you sure it's okay? Why do I have a feeling that I would be the third wheel?" Taka raised a brow.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Mayuri will be happy to see you too. Besides, the more the merrier!"

Akira placed his hand over Taka's shoulder and dragged him along to the 'date'.

Taka knew how Mayuri would feel with him being the 'third wheel' but Akira was very passionate about the gathering, he found no excuse to reject it and it was his last day here with his friend.

He would be going back to his college tomorrow morning, so ultimately Taka felt sorry in his heart for ruining the 'date' but he'd tag along for his friend's sake.

On the other hand, Domon arrived at the train station and stopped by the counter to buy his return ticket.

After he got the ticket, he sat on the bench at the end of the platform, where it was less crowded and waited for the train to arrive.

The platform's roof was open-air, the evening sun shone warmly and shed light over the train station.

Domon was basking in the evening sun, he looked up with squinted eyes and memories started to came afloat.

A lot of memories gushed out in an instant, he thought about how he gave his heart in teaching back in the days and how he taught the students to be a useful person, not just in their studies but in their lives too.

The meeting with Akira and Taka was really meaningful for him, especially since he was really dispirited for a long time. It was nice to know that somehow the students he thought turned out well, his efforts and caring wasn't wasted, unlike the time with his wife.

As his reminiscence went on, he slowly remembered his dead wife.

After the car accident, his wife was comatose for a month, Domon did everything he could and prayed for his wife to return. Reality however did not bend to his wishes, death brought her away from him and left him heartbroken.

Tears rolled down his cheeks unconsciously.

He covered his eyes after wiping away the tears, he knew he was still in public but he couldn't stop the tears from rolling down. His head started to hurt as he cried.

Suddenly, he felt a person sat down beside him on the bench.

Domon was startled, he quickly wiped away his tears in panic and looked away embarrassed.

"It's painful isn't it? Losing someone you love, that sorrow in your heart will never go away. I understand it very much."

The words entered Domon's ears, he was further surprised by it and turned towards the person beside him.

The person revealed to be Ken, in a set of brand new suit. He looked at Domon in an upset face, his eyes were red as though he was going to cry.

"Y-You? You been through something similar?" Domon asked out of curiosity.

He wasn't really comfortable being comforted by a stranger but he has to clear his curiosity.

"I'm sure mine is less heart-wrenching than yours. But I can't forget about it either, the embarrassment, the rage and sorrow, it shouldn't have happened! That damn exorcist!" Ken said in an upset tone.

"Huh? What are you talking about? Exorcist?" Domon was further confused by Ken's words.

"But nevermind, I'll make up to it. That sorrow of yours, that melancholy buried deep down in your heart, it's so alluring. Let's me taste some of it!"

Ken's voice gradually turned from an upset tone to a high-pitched riled up tone.

He looked at Domon in his bloodshot eyes, the gaze was fierce like it was going to devour Domon.

Domon was scared, he thought he ran into a mad man and he wanted to get away from the man but his crippled leg prevented him from running.

Ken grabbed Domon by the hand, the grip slowly tightened.

"Argh! Let go you bastard!" Domon tried to struggle but his attempts were futile.

"Let me taste some of your sorrow!" Ken said.

The Anger mask appeared over his face again and the black patterns on the white mask started to transform from an angry expression to a sorrowful expression.

Domon saw the transformation, he gasped but before he could further react, the sorrowful mask flew out and latched onto his face.

The train finally arrived and the rumbling noise overpowered Domon's scream, no people from the platform heard his muffled scream and it soon died off.

"Now, let's see what will you do, exorcist!" Ken, in Kamen's voice, said behind the Anger mask.