“Are you going to give up so easily, Oni?” I called across the room. “How long have you worked on these murder cases you’ve mentioned?”

She didn’t respond to my probing questions. I always hated to be ignored, even though the person involved was pretty terrifying. She continued to sniffle. Finally, I rolled my noh-eyes and climbed to my feet to cross the distance between us. I stopped behind the desk.

“Oni,” I called out. “Am I really so bad? You were just stepping all over me. It kind of reminds me a bit of someone else. Assuming my true face is so horrible, please note that I don’t have it anymore! As bad as it is, I’m sincerely asking you to help me retrieve it.” I bowed and groveled as I’d done before Reiko-chan’s mother to persuade her. It was my final trump card in most situations.

It got her attention. Her sniffling stopped and she rose with red eyes to turn them on me, looking extremely puzzled. “You... You really want your face back? Why?”

“It’s the only one I’ve ever had!” I responded dryly. Okay, this was a dumb comment. “It’s who I am. Don’t forget if I don’t find it before midnight, my humanity dies. No, I won’t lose my life, so to speak, but I’ll lose my mind and any chance to reclaim a normal life. Do you really want another real yokai to be born?” I’d asked the question before, but it served to refocus the conversation towards the subject of fixing my face. She frowned and plopped down on her chair, and spun while crossing her arms.

“It’s going to be harder, now,” Oni complained, “I thought my plan would work perfectly because I’m a very pretty girl. A cute little girl might make the best lure to draw out Noh-face from its lair.” NARCISSIST! Yay for me for having been able to resist voicing my criticism.

Rui mumbled, continuing as she still twirled on her office chair, “I thought I might try to capture it with my special scroll, but I’ve never been sure I could contain it without… hmmmm… Short of that I guess I’d somehow kill it, then case closed.” Wow... This is her whole plan? It’s pure moronic drivel... Kill THAT THING?! “Oh, well, as far as finding it goes, we’re back to square one.” She stopped and looked up at me. “I have no idea of how to deal with it once we do, but I guess I’m good at improvising.”

WHAT?! Crap, is she focusing on how to really win? Ugh, I’ll give her a little push. “What was all that about me being the bait? Sounds like you weren’t serious about it. How would that work?” I asked, hands on my hips. Being used as bait myself wasn’t something I wanted, but if no other ideas came to mind, getting her thinking again might work.

Oni considered my words, licking her lips thoughtfully. “Oh, it was just a little joke, but it could at least be a backup plan.” She shrugged, pouting. “Alright... you know how serial killers usually return to a scene? If we knew where you were attacked, then it could maybe show up there. You’re a huge gaping wound in my theory, you know! Anyhow, it collects human faces and not inhuman monstrosities like yours! Why did it even want yours? I don’t understand it. Was it mesmerized by your striking appearance?” Her eyes narrowed as she heaved a heavy sigh. She slammed a hand down and suddenly smiled brilliantly as she ascended from the gloom which chained her down.

“Just maybe..." She laughed, surging to her feet. “I wonder if you’re thinking what I am. Probably not... of course, but it doesn't matter."

I pondered over it, considering all the pictures of the people who’d been attacked by Noh-face. “Aha!” My noh-brows furrowed as I scurried back to the low table to pore over it again, confirming my theory. Oni waited expectantly with a slight wrinkle to the left of her plump lips. “Reiko-chan isn’t here.” She seemed to be astonished by the observation.

She vaulted over her desk to me. I looked over my shoulder at her, sensing her motion. “Reiko-chan?” she inquired. “By any chance, do you mean... Tanimura Reiko?” I froze and nodded dumbly. She stared at me for a long moment as anger filled her face redly. Once again I feared for my life. “Why do you think you can talk about her so intimately? What does she mean to you?” Oni asked.