It's the new year! And therefore time for a new fanfiction! :) Nurarihyon is one of my most favoured anime/manga's and it brings me great joy to finally bring this fan-fic to light XD

It'd be fun he said, I'd make new friends he said, well look at me now dad! I'm a complete and utter mess no thanks to you and your manipulative way with words. How the hell you even managed to get me to agree with you I'll never know.

A scowl on my face, I manage to nudge open my bedroom door with my rump and carry in a large cardboard box. Moving over to my unused bed I drop it down with an 'oomph' onto the stiff white covers.

"That should be the last of them," I mutter to myself as I stand upright and place both hands on my lower back, bending my upper abdomen backwards until I hear a satisfactory crack of the spine and relief washes over my strained body.

Let me explain my situation to all you confuzzled viewers. I'm currently in Japan, having just flown over from England by request of my dad, who just so you know chickened out at the last second, and instead decided to send me to check out our new residence. A dainty little apartment in a large building complex situated in the heart of Tokyo, in Kanto: Ukiyoe town.

Despite the small source of comfort that my aunt will be paying me a visit in three days, I'm still feeling paranoid about staying in the apartment on my own. Not to mention I'm attending a completely new school tomorrow that doesn't speak a word of English. I dare say that if it weren't for my mothers insistent nagging that Japanese should become mine and my brothers' second language then I'd be petrified right now. 

Releasing a long drawn out breath, I feel my muscles relax as my mind is put at ease. I can do this, I'm an independent young woman now, pretty sure my mum also faced this kind of situation when she was thirteen and her parents were always out. If she could do it then so can I!

Slapping my cheeks, I put on a determined expression and march out of my room, long pink hair billowing out behind me as I walk down the cramped hallway, filled to the brim with boxes of varying sizes. I squeeze my way through, managing to only bump my hips painfully a few times, and pop out of one of the doorways into the kitchen.

I immediately stumble over an unforeseen bag filled with pot noodles, and curse irritably as my big toe begins to throb. This house is so unsafe right now with boxes and bags spilling out across the floors and up the walls. By the time my dad and brother get here they'll find me buried and crushed under a tower of cardboard boxes.

Maneuvering around a crate of kitchen utensils I reach out a thin hand to scoop up the house keys and purse from the smooth kitchen counter near the fridge. If I'm planning on starting the day problem-free tomorrow, then first I'm gonna have to go buy some milk.

After once again stumbling through the mine field of boxes that has become my hallway, I slip on my daps at the front door and pull down my black coat from the coat rack. Buttoning it up and shoving my valuables into the pockets, I finally leave the apartment.

I check my phone as I walk down the empty streets, the flickering of lamps illuminating the shop fronts as the sun begins to set in the distance, sending up splatters of pinks and blues across the sky.

No new messages from dad, typical. He sends his only daughter off to a different country, and doesn't even bother to check if she's been harassed by the neighbors yet. I'd get more sympathy out of a rabbit then my father.

Reaching a bend in the road, I check for cars before skirting to the other side, where a large sign flashes to signal that the store is a 24/7 one.

After entering the store and filling my basket with milk as well as a few other snacks for the kitchen, I pay for it and leave. Now carrying two plastic shopping bags in each hand, I'm about to cross back over and head home when something catches the corner of my eye, and I quickly snap my head around to where the small sign of movement had come from.

I stand there glaring into the growing darkness like an owl at the edge of the store, just around the corner where the bright sign continues to flash. Funny, I could've sworn...

There it is again, the faintest of movements in the shadows as black shifts against black. Human or cat regardless, I trudge over to the side of the building, and cautiously peak my head around the brick wall, not knowing what to expect.

What I can say for sure though, is that I was not expecting to see a small elderly man leaning against the wall. His figure hunched over with a hand placed on his sandaled foot, wearing an expression of discomfort.

I blink, my face void of any emotion as I stare emptily at the slightly curled over figure before me. Feeling my burning gaze, the old man turns his head around and quickly stands up straight, releasing a wry yet feeble smile.

"Ah, finally, an able-bodied youth," he says kindly as he looks me up and down approvingly, "you look like a strong young girl, mind doing an old man like me a favour at this untimely hour?" He cracks a grin as if he found his predicament funny.

I look down at my long slim arms, trembling from the effort of having to hold two full bags of shopping in each one. Cocking a brow, I raise my head again to send the old man a suspicious look, he is definitely up to something.

"If your cat needs walking then sorry old man, but I need to get home and feed my unicorn." I say with a small sarcastic smile, shifting the bags around in my hands uncomfortably, beginning to feel the white plastic cutting red marks into my skin.

The small man before me releases an amused chuckle, and pats down the brown robe that I notice he wears over a dark green kimono. This manages to conflict with my own logic, as, being an English girl and all, I still find Japanese dress habits rather odd. And as far as I can tell, a kimono is basically a dress for both genders.

"I see you're not one to be trifled with young lady. But no, I was going to ask if you could assist me in getting home," I raise the other eyebrow, "you see, I seem to have twisted my ankle while taking a late night stroll, and being the old man that I am, fear it'll be too dangerous to try make it back home with such a grave injury."

Okay, now this old geezer is definitely milking it. And grave injury?! Old people are so paranoid nowadays about their health. But despite that the old guy has a point. It is getting rather late and I wouldn't be surprised if a gang tried to jump this apparently feeble old man.

Quickly checking the watch around my wrist, I end up releasing a sigh as my human nature gets the better of me. Reluctantly I shift over to the old man and crouch down, offering my back to him as the plastic bags scrape against the ground.

"Get on old geezer, I'll take you home." I say blandly.

"Thank you, thank you. You're very kind." He beams, clambering onto my back.

"So. Which way do I go?" My expression is monotone as I stand up, waiting for the old man I've just picked up to give me instructions.

"You just start walking and I'll tell you where to go." He says cheerfully.

I'm really beginning to regret my decision to help him now. This old geezer is enjoying his situation far too much.

Half an hour later, I watch with narrowed eyes as the old man walks over to two large wooden gates, and then turns around to give me a grateful smile. My eye twitches. That old man had me walking in circles for ten whole minutes just for fun! And now, my back feels like it's been hit with a sledge hammer!

I don't return the smile, and instead turn around to walk back the long way we came, wanting nothing more than to get back home and collapse onto my mattress.

"Young lady, I never did get your name!" He suddenly calls out behind me, and I yell back, rather irritably.

"There's a reason for that old geezer!"

He laughs at this, and I walk a little faster until I'm around the next corner, his hearty laughter dying away.

I step through my front door and kick off my shoes, bumping the door closed behind me and pushing through to the kitchen where I can finally drop the bags. My hands are lined with painful red streaks and I can only hope they'll fade by the morning.

Now for my next obstacle, school!