What a dreary sight, Nishi thought as he scoffed, scratching at his chin as he looked on apprehensively at the village, overlooking it from a hill.
It was a cloudy day, a forecast intended for a storm soon, the surrounding forest alive with noise. A distant waterfall barely touched Nishi's ears as he casually waltzed down the hill, stepping carefully over rocks, branches, and ditches.
"Although, it does remind me quite a lot of home," Nishi said with a smirk, stepping through a shallow stream as he looked down at minnows urgently rushing away from his feet.
Minnows are rather annoying to eat, I remember having to eat them while I was on the road and had nothing left, Nishi thought as he continued.
Exiting a clearing, Nishi looked at the village nestled in the small valley, dozens of houses scattered about, a nostalgic sight.
"Been quite some time since I've seen such a place," Nishi muttered as he leapt over the fence.
Walking down a beaten dirt path, Nishi looked around, spotting a handful of people keeping themselves busy with the late spring weather and their day-to-day drivel. Some of them looked at Nishi with wide eyes as they walked, with some covering their mouths in shock, and others flinching.
An older man, no younger than 60, stood up from his porch, the creaky rocking chair beneath him continuing on its own as the man stepped into the pathway, Nishi coming to a halt.
"I-ike?" He asked as he adjusted his glasses in visible disbelief.
This vessel's grandfather, the resemblance is loose, but my memories don't lie, Nishi thought as he stared at the old man, his gaze unreadable.
"Hello, grandfather," Nishi said slowly, a grin merely hinting on his face.
The old man's wrinkled face was still for a moment, his eyes reading Nishi with a gradualness, before a look of faint sadness touched his expression, a gradual and calm tone in his voice, "You've changed..."
Crossing his arms, Nishi smirk finally manifested as he replied, "In more ways than you'd think old man."
He looked at Nishi for a moment, his eyes pained as he sighed, taking his glasses off to wipe the lens as he retorted slowly, "You've certainly kept that rebellious streak to yourself haven't you."
Chuckling for a moment deep in his chest, the old man slowly put his glasses back on as he continued, "Why've you come back son?" Pausing for only a moment to wet his lips and think, he added, "Last thing you told us was we were holding you back, so what changed?"
Nishi eyed the old man, his iconic grin fading as he spoke, "I'm not your grandson, don't get so chummy with me, old bag," Nishi's hostility tinged his tone as his gaze was like that of a predator.
The old man paused, a silence settling over them as the sound of people working, nature, and a calm day breezed through them.
Squinting at Nishi, the old man seemed to be appraising Nishi, his eyes scrutinizing over every detail, before finally he rubbed his chin and spoke calmly, "You must think my memory is worse than it is."
At this point, others from the village seemed to be spectating from a distance, a clear and palpable thickness in the air.
Nishi stared at the old man for a moment, smirking again as he looked around at the prying eyes, soon looking back, "I tell the truth, while I have your son's body, he is no longer here," he spoke calmly, unfolding his arms to make a brief casual gesture.
"What are you talking about Ike?" He said more irritated, his tone growing impatient, "You come back to your home after so many years, just to make such a statement?"
Sighing lightly, Nishi dug a finger into his ear as he listened, flicking his finger as he spoke in a matter of fact tone, "The name's not Ike, it's Nishi Obara," he corrected as he patted his chest, "Ike is merely my vessel."
A distant rumble of thunder crackled through the air as silence befell the two of them, the old man staring down at his feet slowly as Nishi stood firmly.
"W-what did you say your name was...?" The old man spoke shakily, a tremble creeping up his legs.
Smirking devilishly, Nishi spoke firmly, "Nishi Oba-" A sudden smack that truly caught Nishi off guard, his eyes widening as he stood there stunned.
"YOU LEAVE FOR YEARS AND COME BACK WITH THE DISRESPECT TO SPIT ON THE NAME OF OUR LEGACY?!" The old man shouted, not caring if the whole village heard, his chest huffing and puffing as his red face looked almost like a beet.
This is unexpected, both the slap... and the fact my name has significance here. Nishi thought, his head slowly turning back to meet the gaze of the old man, a look of intrigue mixed with mild irritation.
Seemingly waiting for a response, Nishi's gaze sharpened as he asked, "What does that name mean to you?"
The old man scrunched his face up in frustration as he put his hands on his hips, pacing lightly as Nishi took notice of his grandmother watching from the porch, looking back to see the old man scowling at him, "Mean to me? It's what it means for all of us son, that man's name- no, that monster's name is the reason why for generations our village has known nothing but isolation!" He spoke harshly, his tone biting at Nishi.
Continuing, he didn't stop, "Our ancestors, the Obara, were all victims of Nishi's wrath, a violent god of insatiable hunger and combat from long ago during the Heian Era," pausing, he stared on at Nishi firmly, "You never believed in it, but I was okay with that, yet despite that... now you come here just ridicule us and our curse, how sick in the head are you son?" He said with disbelief lacing his voice.
God of insatiable hunger and combat... I like that title, Nishi thought as a grin reached across his face, unable to contain his joy.
The old man began to speak again, Nishi interrupting him, "I see what happened now, you are the Obara clan, my trophies from long ago, born anew," Nishi said with a dark chuckle.
Continuing, Nishi added, "Let it be known," leaning in, Nishi whispered, "Make no mistake, non-sorcerer, I am your god."
The old man's eyes were wide, but before he spoke or formed a rebuttal, he froze, sweat pouring down his forehead as he couldn't breathe, Nishi's voice whispering yet still, "You can feel it... can't you?"
A bowl shattered as it hit the ground, children cried, a flock of birds rippled through the air, the entire village seemed to feel the weight of Nishi's overwhelming malice.
Stepping back, Nishi let off the gas on his malice, smiling with a devilish grin, "Now, believe me, your son was a fool and on a dare..." With a gesture, Nishi acts as if he is eating something, making a loud gulp noise, "...Ahhh... Ate the cursed object I'd made myself into!" Nishi said cockily, taunting the old man who stared with wide eyes, all of his hairs standing on end.
The old man clenched his chest as his wife, my grandmother, ran as fast as her old body could to aid him, "Honey...!" She said as she wrapped an arm around his shoulder, clenching his free hand in her own.
With a gradualness, the old woman with her bright green eyes stared at Nishi shakily, "I-ike, this is no time for jokes... You know how Nakai is- his heart can't bear this."
Scoffing, Nishi glances off into the distance, casually commenting, "If an old man is so fragile he could die from such a thing then good riddance," looking back with a stern expression, Nishi adds, "From now on this village is under my ownership."
The old man begins to speak before Nakai interrupts, "Saki dear, it's no use..." He said as he scowled at Nishi, sweat beading on his forehead.
Smirking happily, Nishi looked around him, his roguish eyes settling on the villagers, "Hear that? I own this place now, I want every able bodied man to put themselves in front of my face at midnight, otherwise..." Pausing, he slowly held his hands out, clenching them as a visible red heat surged from his fists, "I will tear your family limb from limb."
Putting his hands down, Nishi stuffed them into his pockets. He glanced back to his grandparents, "I own your house now. Find a new place to live," he said calmly, strutting to the front door.
Nakai spoke suddenly, Nishi pausing before entering, "Nishi."
Glancing over his shoulder, Nishi's eyes bore zero patience, Nakai responding calmly, "We will never be your slaves again," he said with a shaking voice.
Smiling slowly, Nishi glanced over his shoulder, "You alreadyare," he spoke calmly as he shut the door behind him.