While returning back home the next morning I bumped into a young lady...

Me : Am so sorry...

Lady : It's alright...

She looked kinda worn out and scared...

Me : Is everything alright?

Lady : No. My family threw me out of the house (sobbing).

Me : But why?!

Lady : I-I don't know.... I haven't eaten properly for days... And don't have anywhere to stay... Even my money is coming to an end... (Breaks down crying)

Me : D-Don't cry... (Holds her right hand pulling her) You can stay at my house tonight...

Lady : (looks at me in doubt and kinda annoyed) Why would you help me?

Me : There's a thing called humanity don't you know?

Lady : Is it even alive?

Me : To some extent yeah.

Lady : Thank you... (Smiles)

Me : (walking) So what's your name?

Lady : Sakiko. What about you?

Me : Akari.

Sakiko : Beautiful name...

Me : Thanks. 😁

Sakiko : Who kept your name?

Me : My father...

Sakiko : Wise choice.

Back at home...

I walked up to my grandma along with Sakiko... She looked at us with her aged eyes while sipping her tea... Mom has went out for another business trip and won't be back before next week...

Me : Can she stay here for tonight grandma?

Haruka : Who is she?...

Me : My friend Sakiko....

Haruka : Fine... But not everyone is what they look like.... You believe them too easily...

Me : So we shouldn't help people in need? (Annoyed)

Haruka : Just remember... Your trust can bring trouble to your own life.... And when it will break you won't have anywhere to go....

Me : Sure. We will see about it later.

Saying this I entered along with Sakiko showing her the guest room... Jotaro has gone back to attend classes so that he can bring back notes for me. I have asked Kiyoko to stay with my dad during my absence... Am really worried for him.... Sakiko entered her room to get freshed as I went to prepare something for her to eat. She really seemed to be a nice person. I don't know why grandma 👵 has a problem with her staying here...

After she had her bath I gave her fresh clothes and food.... She talked about her marriage and how her husband died... Her family, friends and every possible things... I was really impressed by her... Even after becoming widow at such a young age she still had a bright smile on her lips... We talked till late at night before she finally went to sleep... Returning back to my room I took out a bottle of sake 🍶 and poured a drink for myself... I emptied a whole bottle down before realising that the aura of the house is changing.
Putting down my glass I grabbed my Kanata as the room door opens on it's own...

Me : Who is there? (Standing up)

A snake-like thing tied me up.. As I struggled to free myself a head stared at me. Seeing a head out of nowhere almost made me scream😱.

Me : S-Sakiko?! You almost scared me...

Sakiko : Almost? (Seems disheartened)

Me : So your a Rokurokubi huh.

A Rokurokubi occurs in ordinary women... Their diet is regular food by day and lamp oil by night... They appear to be ordinary women during day. However at night their bodies sleep while their necks stretch to an incredible length and roam around freely... Unlike most of Yokais which are born as monsters, Rokurokubi are former humans transformed by a curse. Luckily my room is having electric lights... I don't know what happened to others lamps.

Sakiko : How do you know about us?

Me : Cause that's my job?

Sakiko : (turning her attention to my sake bottle) What's that?

Me : Alcohol.

Sakiko : You mustn't drink... You haven't reached your drinking age. 😒

Me : Am more than 400 years... If it's still under-drinking age then I don't know when my drinking age will come. (sarcastic tone)

Sakiko : R-Really?!

Me : Yeah..

I found her staring at the sake bottle.

Me : Wanna have some?

Sakiko : Sure... If you don't mind...

Few minutes later...

She emptied all the bottles of sake from my stock damn her 😒 who drinks 10 bottles at one go? Her cheek has turned rosy from getting drunk... And she has started talking rubbish....

Sakiko : Hey... Akari? (hiccups)

Me : Say.

Sakiko : Ya know am a really bad girl... I cheated on my hubby....

Me : You did what?!

Sakiko : (almost crying) I know am cruel.... I still regret doing it... Hey... Akari?

Me : Now what is it? Am never gonna let you drink sake again...

Sakiko : Will you forgive me for my sin?

Me : Why you asking for forgiveness from me?

Sakiko : Cause.... I like you.... Will you be my light like the meaning of your name?

Me : (smiling) Surely Sakiko...

Sakiko : Wanna go out and drink more sake?

Me : No. No for sake for you.

But who listens to me? She already opened the door and her face headed towards the main gate.

Sakiko : Akari! Use my neck as a rope and come down!

Me : Don't shout! You're drawing attention!

Sakiko : Fine... Just come.

Me : You sure?

Sakiko : Am gonna leave you behind!

I gulped my spit before using her neck to come out of the house... Soon we were running down the dark street... We were standing near the sake shop when a mischievous smirk covers her face as she looks at a guy coming out of the shop after getting drunk... She turns her head towards me still smirking... Her cheeks were red revealing that she was still drunk.

Sakiko : Let's have fun.

Me : How?

She stretches her neck even longer going towards the guy... He almost fainted seeing a head floating around in the air... And didn't understand if it was reality or was he too drunk. He flees from the spot as Sakiko puts her attention towards the sake shop entering... A state of confusion is formed as people came out of the shop and ran here and there to save their life... After everyone were gone I went to Sakiko and found her drinking to her heart contained... Rokurokubi are sometimes mischievous they love to scare people just for fun... Now that I saw it standing LIVE on spot I found it really funny... I took out my wallet and kept some money on the counter.

Me : Let's go Sakiko.

Sakiko : Whatcha doing Akari?

Me : Paying for the sake you had.

Sakiko : But no one is here.

Me : Still... It's something he works hard everyday to earn.

Sakiko : Your wish 🙄. (She almost puked while speaking)

Me : Seems like you overdid yourself.

Sakiko : Hey... Akari? Do you still believe on me? Even after knowing I cheated on my hubby?

Me : Yeah.

Sakiko : Will you let me stay forever with you? Am ready to be your slave (hiccups) I have nowhere to go...

Me : Not as a slave. But as a family member. (Puts my hand on her head) Let's go.... Sakiko.

To be continued...