#faceless ghost

Before you can fall flat on your face, another stranger grabs you and holds you up with surprising strength. The bulky person rolls their eyes and stalks away as you whisper a thank you to this newcomer. Turning to her, you see that her silky black bangs are covering her eyes and the lower half of her face is concealed by a mask, with a cute smiley face on it. She nods, pulling you down an alleyway, and you simply let her. Soon enough, you find yourself right outside your apartment.

Before she can leave, you clutch onto her shirt.

“Wait, what’s your name?” You slur, introducing yourself slowly so you don’t stumble over the syllables of your own name.

She ducks her head, almost shy, and in a whisper you hear, “...Kasumi.”

Then she’s gone, running back through the alleyways.

A few weeks later, you leave the bar just a bit tipsy instead of totally drunk. You had told your friends about the mysterious girl and the weird street you found, but they didn’t believe you.

“Maybe you saw some cosplayers leaving an event or something,” suggested one of them.

You couldn’t deny that it was likely, but you knew what you saw. Superhuman features that looked way too realistic to be prosthetics or makeup.

Heading down the street, you let your feet guide you, hoping to stumble upon that same place. You find yourself right outside your own apartment in less time than usual and pout, wondering how to get back to that weird street. As you paced around in front of your building, you felt someone else’s presence but didn’t see anyone nearby.

Out of curiosity, foolishness, or maybe both, you duck into the nearest alley and start walking. Heedless of any possible dangers, you spot a familiar head of black hair poking out from behind a pole. That head disappears the moment you notice, though.

“Kasumi? Is that you?” You call, eagerly walking forward. “I just want to talk if that’s okay with you.”

Kasumi shyly steps out, head lowered and hands clasped in front of her. “H-hello...” she mumbles, clearly avoiding eye contact with you.

"I'm so glad you're here!" You beam, taking her hands in yours. "Do you have some time to hang out right now?"

She perks up, bangs fluttering around her forehead. "You want to…?"

Kasumi leads you back to the weird place you knew you hadn't imagined, and you try not to gawk at the people with multiple limbs, limbs in different places, eyes and heads and tons of body parts that were clearly inhuman. She brings you to a little park where you can sit together on a bench, as she seems to like people-watching and you're completely enthralled by it.

"I want to thank you for helping me out the other day, Kasumi," you tell her. "So, you know. Thank you."

She waves a hand dismissively, patting your shoulder. You sit in comfortable silence for a while, just watching the humanoid creatures go by, but you still want to get to know her.

"Hey, could I see your face?" You ask out of nowhere, making her jump in her seat. She shakes her head, hair swishing back and forth, and she reaches up to make sure her mask is firmly in place. "I mean, considering where we are, I'm assuming that you're not fully human. I'm already aware of that, if that's what's bothering you, but I won't keep pressing if you really don't want to."

Uneasily, she whispers something about terrifying you.

"I won't be scared, I promise," you say encouragingly. "Please."

With a shaky sigh, she unfastens the mask and pushes her bangs to one side. There's nothing there.

You can't help but stare at the empty expanse of skin, with no facial features to speak of. Kasumi's face is perfectly smooth, rounded cheeks continuing into her forehead, unbroken by eyes or a nose or lips.

At your stare, Kasumi's face turns down and she lets her bangs down, shoulders slumping.

"No, hang on," you say. "I'm not scared. I'm not," you repeat when she turns to stare at you. "I'm just surprised, is all. Is it strange that I still think you're cute?"

As quickly as she puts the mask back on, she can't hide the pink blush that spreads across her cheeks.

***

You've been spending so much time in the alternate back alley world that you're considering getting a job here. To continue being with Kasumi, it's definitely a worthwhile thought.

The two of you are having breakfast at Kasumi's favorite café, sharing a plate heaped with waffles and maple syrup and whipped cream and fruit. She's always been shy about eating in front of you, worried that it would freak you out, but seeing the loaded fork disappear into her face and reappear empty isn't so strange to you anymore. In fact, nothing about her is strange anymore.

She's wearing a simple hairclip, showing off part of her forehead and not covering her whole face as usual. Spearing a cream-covered strawberry on your fork, you lift it up. Noticing this, Kasumi puts down her own fork and leans forward to let you feed her. Putting her hands on her cheeks, she flushes happily, inclining her head. You could watch that blush bloom over her face forever and it still wouldn't be enough.

You smile softly, feeling just as drunk as the day you met her. Drunk on your adoration for her, the way that you have come to understand what she tries to tell you without words, the way she leans into your touch, the way she tugs at your clothes or touches your hands to get your attention. The way you catch her sightlessly staring at you sometimes, and you know she's been staring because she instantly turns away and pretends to do literally anything else.

Kasumi tilts her head a different way, patting your hand inquisitively as if to ask what's wrong, startling you out of your thoughts.

"It's nothing, honey. Is it good?"

She nods enthusiastically, cutting a piece of waffle and holding it out to you. Savoring the bite, you smile again as her hand returns to her cheek, resting her face in her palm to watch you eat.

"It's delicious," you say, "but I think I still prefer your cooking."

Kasumi nearly drops her fork, blushing bright pink and smacking your hand for teasing her. You merely giggle and keep eating. Still slightly pink, she turns to look out the window, pointing something out to you. Curiously, you try to see what she's pointing at, and as you do she leans over the table. Her featureless face nuzzles against your cheek briefly, an odd yet pleasant sensation, and you gasp.

"Kasumi, what was that?" Stunned, you take in her deepening blush and fidgety fingers. "Was that a kiss?"

Slowly, hesitantly, she nods.

"Just when I thought you couldn't get any cuter."

Instantly she unclips her hair, letting it cover her forehead entirely as she hides the rest of her red face behind a napkin. You giggle, tugging her hands away.

"No, you don't get to do that." Gently you lower her hands, carefully clipping her bangs back again. "I like seeing your face."

Unable to hide behind the discarded napkin, she resorts to swallowing forkfuls of waffles as a distraction.

Eventually the pair of you finish the plate and, after leaving a generous tip for the server, make your way outside.

As you walk, you go way slower than usual, kicking at the ground with your heel. You can feel Kasumi's gaze (or lack thereof?) on you, and she links arms with you and tilts her head up to yours.

“What’s...wrong?” She whispers.

You press your lips together, seeing Kasumi's place not too far away.

“So I was thinking,” you start, and Kasumi nods, “that it always takes me a while to come spend time with you.” You stare straight ahead, almost afraid to see her reaction. “Maybe I should just move in with you.”

Kasumi stops short, releasing your arm and taking a step back.

“Kasumi?” Oh no, you already regret such a hasty suggestion. “I-I mean, of course I don’t have to if you don’t want me to. It’s okay—“

Suddenly she launches herself at you and you open your arms just in time to catch her. She’s not saying anything, but her face underneath her mask is flushed and she’s trembling, clutching onto you like a lifeline.

“Whoa!” You giggle nervously, squeezing her petite form in your arms. “Is that a yes? Can I come live with you?”

She nods vigorously, bangs bobbing up and down.

“So I won’t be a bother?”

She shakes her head, bangs swishing back and forth.

For the rest of the walk, Kasumi silently holds your hand without looking at you, but you can tell she’s happy. You don’t know how, but you just know.

Once outside her place, you pause, wondering what to say or do now. Kasumi solves that problem by beckoning you towards her and standing up on tiptoe. You lean down and kiss the place where her mouth would be. There's no nose to get in the way or lips to focus on, and the weird yet nice feeling returns in full force. When you pull away, she's blushing again, hiding behind her hair a little.

"I'll see you later," you say softly. She nods, but before she can turn to open the door, you add, "Hey, Kasumi? I love you."

Her hair fans out as her hands fly to her chest, resting over her heart. In the quietest voice yet, she whispers, "Love you, too."

With that, she disappears inside her house and you continue to walk on, unable to keep the grin from taking over your face.

***

Living with Kasumi in domestic bliss makes you feel like the luckiest woman on the planet, and no matter what happens during the day, you know you can come home to an adoring girlfriend.

Eventually you come home from work one day, eager to show her something. Kasumi notices your excitement and tilts her head.

“Open your hands, honey.” When she does, you give her the gift: a little pack of hair clips, to replace the plain one she sometimes wears. They’re colorful and pastel, just like the colors she wears the most.

Her head droops a bit and you rush to explain. “I saw these and instantly thought of you. You don’t have to wear all of them outside if you don’t want to. I just wanted to see your face more, that’s all.”

“My face...? Nothing to...to see...”

You shake your head. “That’s not true. You’re so cute, it’s a pity not seeing it more often. Besides, when I told you that I loved you, I meant all of you. Including your face.”

Her head is still lowered as she gives the hair clips back to you. You sigh and you’re about to go digging in your bag for the receipt when she taps the clips and then her bangs.

“You want me to put them on you?”

At her nod, you beam and lead her to the couch. She sits while you kneel in front of her, parting her bangs to one side and kissing her forehead affectionately. Taking your time, you place the hair clips to reveal Kasumi's face a little more. Knowing that she’s still self-conscious, you make sure not to show too much, letting some hair fall over one side. Sitting back, you admire your handiwork.

“How’s this?” You hand her a mirror and watch as she gently runs her fingers through her bangs, touching the hair clips. Still holding the mirror, she leans forward and wraps her arms around your neck, nuzzling your cheeks as you laugh.

"Hey, Kasumi?" She leans back to see your face better. "Are you happy?" Nodding so furiously that her bangs brush against your face, she plucks an extra hairpin from the case and fastens it in your hair so that you match. Then she pats your hair and tilts her head at you. "Me too. Couldn't be happier."

And as Kasumi buries her face in the crook of your neck, you breathe in the soft scent of her shampoo and let the warm, fuzzy feelings take over. Maybe you'll buy cute couples clothes to match from head to toe. She'd blush and look away, but the way she'd sidle up to you and squeeze your hand would betray her real feelings.