The Rokurokubi Horror

     Weird answer. Did that voice sound familiar? She squints, still unable to identify them.

     ”Hey…” She calls again. "Are you doing something suspicious…?"

"I'm just trying to enjoy the sounds of the waves, and the nice night. I'm not causing any trouble."

     It would have been normal to be considered suspicious by a human at night, Sekibanki supposed. After all, humans feared what they couldn't see in the dark.

     For all they knew, a murderer could have been stalking them.

     Oh. Of all the people, it was her again. At least this time she wasn't being hunted down. Of all the people to meet, however...

"... No one important. Just ignore me."

     ... But, it was nice to be by. Especially after having been away from it for so many years.

     She shoved a potato chip in her mouth and got up from the couch, grabbing the chip bag as she swept past it. She stepped outside, the bright sun hitting her face and momentarily blinding her. The weather had been stable as of late with no freaky heat or cold waves. Thank God too, they were getting pretty damn annoying. Almost as annoying as the lack of chips that were currently being eaten. Kyouko frowned. Damn, out again. Luckily the market was close enough.

     On her way out of the store with a fresh bag of chips, she spotted someone walking away with a plastic bag, fiddling with something. Looked like a can of meat. They were having a pretty hard time with it, too. It’s a can of meat, how can you… Whatever, it’s their problem, Kyouko thought as she walked right past the person. 

     …Fine. She turned around and faced the stranger.

     Damn, she'd been noticed.

     Pausing, for a moment, the youkai glanced aside towards Kyouko with a dull expression masking her own internal embarrassment. Ah, this wasn't good-- this was anything but good. Internally, she cursed herself for allowing such a moment as this to actually happen.

"Of course I know."

     A complete lie.

"I was just reading the label on this first before opening it."

     Another lie. She couldn't read English.

     Turning it over to look at this so-called tab on it's top-- having wondered that it was-- with little hesitation, the youkai went to tugging at it. ... And turning it. And twisting it. And continuing an amalgamation of the three processes in a particularly hopeless manner, growing increasingly annoyed.

     Glancing back just to see if the other was watching-- which she still was-- Sekibanki quickly looked back before accidentally dropping it.

"..."

"... Th... the thing's jammed."

     Sham. Worthless. Lying. There’s no way a person like you could be an idol.

     Finally, she rises.

     "Sh-Shut up… shut up, shut up… You… don’t know anything about me…” Breathe. She’s visibly shaking, she’s not taking it well at all, angered and hurt that everything she’s devoted her life to has just been spat upon and shoved right back to her.

      “You don’t know anything. You’re only speaking from your narrow perspective of hatred for others, that’s all you know how to do!”

     ”Maybe I’m a little pushy, bossy, maybe I’ve made you mad more than once, but that…” Shaking. Shaking. Shaking. "…That doesn’t make me any less of an idol than I am! Idols become idols because they have a genuine wish to spread happiness to others! Do you think I’m doing this to have a pretty title, to act cutesy and be popular? At the end of the day it’s not about any of that! At the end of the day an idol’s job is to bring a smile to people’s faces! Even to someone as hateful and dreadful as you, I’d still want you to smile, and you know why?” Face puffed, she’s worked herself up, tears budding at the corner of reddened eyes. “Because I’m an idol! That’s what idols do, from the very core of their heart, so I’m SORRY! I’m SORRY I couldn’t undo all that stupid hatred inside of you, maybe there’s someone else can and I hope,  I really really really hope, by God, that they do! Because I’m… Because I’m an idol!”

     So she was finally rebuked with something that was more than simple deflections and insults. ... Ah, well, it still had insults. But it was much more than the youkai had expected to hear from the other. She had half expected Nico to simply run off in tears, but... huh. Maybe she really was serious about all this.

"... You're right," she simply states. "I don't know anything about you. And you don't know anything about me."

     Hateful? Dreadful? Mm.

     Internally, she thought a bit about those two words. Dreadful? She wasn't exactly a charmer, but she could be nice. And hateful? It's not like she hated people for no reason, she simply disliked others. Not hated.

     It was hard to like others you couldn't connect to, after all. And despite living amid their ranks, she could hardly connect to humans, at times.

     But she certainly didn't hate them.

"... Hmph."

     With a sigh, Sekibanki turns aside and backs away-- taking a seat back where she was at. Casually beginning to refill her glass of sake, the youkai's gaze focuses on the dark sky.

"Well, think what you want. I don't mind being hated, I guess. And if you want to make me smile, I can't really argue with that. I don't get why you would want to, but... well, anyways..."

     Another sigh.

     Lies?!

     Who on Earth does this girl think she is? Nico feels her heart race, blood rush, her anger only flares as the other steps closer — body language haughty, dangerous. Her teeth grit with every word, but the last gets her, and the water gun she held so lackadaisically is thrown viciously to the side.

     ”What the fuck did you just say to me!? You don’t know anything! You don’t know anything at all, so shut your fucking mouth, already!”

     ”Think of me as you will, I don’t care anymore! I don’t care if I never see you again! But if you for a GODDAMNED second believe you know what idoldom is about, that you can just call these people who work tirelessly to bring smiles and happiness to others while you sit on your ignorant ass and avoid everyone and stupidly brood to yourself, then you’re just an IDIOT! YOU’RE AN IDIOT, IDIOT, A GODDAMNED HALF-BRAINED FOOL!" Flushed with rage, the smaller girl pushes forward with her hands in attempt to knock Sekibanki away. 

"Fine. Think of me as you will yourself. I don't like attention, I hate crowds, and fads are just so annoying. I'll say all I want, however, because once again, this is your fault."

     And with that she lunges forward, pushing Nico back this time-- with enough force to hopefully cause her to fall, or at least force her to stumble in return.

"I know what you're showing me, you idiot. You're the first and only idol I've ever met, and so far, you've painted this grand picture all yourself. So, I'll rescind what I said about these idols. Maybe they are what you say they are. And if so, then I'll respect that. But then, what does that make you?"

"That just makes you a sham."

     And now with a sigh, Sekibanki's features are dull once more. In fact, she seemed more disappointed now than anything.

     She sounded really bothered. But… why? It was obviously her fault, who just knocks a person out when they’re trying to do some good? It stings, her words, but Nico is not the type to just take it. Flaring up and stepping closer herself, shoulders raised, she stares back into Sekibanki’s eyes.

     ”Why are you so… so!? Why are you just so rude?!”

     ”You know what? Say what you want about me, fine! But calling all idols pigheaded is just too far, I’m not going to stand around and let someone like you talk out their ass about something they don’t know about! You know nothing about idols, so why don’t you just shut up and get the stick out of your ass already!” A huff, seething through grit teeth. "I can let go of the fact you knocked me out, but calling idols disgusting… That’s just unforgivable.”

"Disgusting... you're absolutely disgusting, definitely. It's true I don't know about idols, but you've told me enough. Idols are meant to make people smile, I think you said... right? Meant to make people happy?"

"What kind of half-assed lie is that, anyways?"

     Stepping in closer to further intimidate the other, Sekibanki's head cants upwards, allowing her to scoff mockingly towards the Nico.

"Seriously... you've never made me smile. Not even once. Instead, all you've been doing is hassling me since the first time you approached me. But thanks to you, I think I understand the basics of an idol. After all, you're an idol yourself. So if all idols are like you, then..."

     Sekibanki sneers.

     Quick to retort, quick to fluster. She glares at Sekibanki, fire practically spitting from her eyes.

      “I didn’t fall unconscious! You knocked me out!” The stalking comment goes unanswered. To be honest, she kind of is…

"You want an apology? ... For what?"

     Moving in closer to the other, Sekibanki stares into the other's eyes as a sort of means of intimidation-- looking calm and composed.

     But ah, how annoyed she had grown.

"Everything that has happened has been brought upon by yourself. I don't need to apologize to an idiot like yourself. If anything, you should apologize for continuing to hound me for something that was all your fault. ... You said you were an 'idol' before, right? Are you idols supposed to be this pigheaded? Because if that's the case..."

     That was as believable as this whole “murder island” shit, honestly.

     ”Don’t play dumb. You know what you did.”

     Raising a hand to run it through her short red hair, Sekibanki exhales. So that's what she wanted? An apology? And for what, exactly?

     How annoying.

"All those times you fell unconscious were entirely your fault. I don't need to apologize for something that isn't my fault."

     ”Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?”

"What are you talking about?"

"And stop that. Or else I'll dunk you in to the sea."

     There’s the she-devil that cursed Nico’s life.

     That weird, red-headed girl with the bow and very strong forehead. There’s no hesitation in the idol’s steps as she sneaks up behind her, confidently pushing a gun she’d bought from the market to the other’s head.

     Her voice, when she speaks, is low, serious.

     "I finally found you…You’ll pay…"

     This girl again? Seriously? ... She didn't seem to know when to give up. Silent for a few moments, having been squirted with water, the youkai simply sits where she was-- proceeding to drink from her glass of sake.

"Hey..."

   ” Perhaps I’ll shut it up for you! ♥ ”

     ... Completely knock her head off-- sending it rolling further down in the hallway. And yet, she stood tall. Patting her headless neck pathetically, her voice resounded from down the hall, where her head had ended up.

"Damn it! Catching me off guard like that...!"

     She supposed that made sense. Fortune telling was a rare thing to hear from humans, however. Sekibanki couldn't help but grow a tad intrigued.

"... Anyways, I'm already red, so. This hallway is red enough without the blood in it. Good to know you aren't a good fighter, though."

"Why didn’t I see this coming?! I’ve gotta get out of here…" wait a second