A/N: Although this story takes place in Japan, I've tried my best to use the rough English translations of Japanese words and phrases.

However, there were times when I couldn't avoid using the original word without things coming out awkward. Thus, I've decided to put notes at the end of some chapters to clear things up.

******

They had once called him Office Superman because of his unparalleled loyalty, professionalism, and efficiency. Tsutomu had a dutiful wife who waited on him hand and foot, and a high-achieving son who had once represented the prefecture at a baseball championship. Over time, he had developed a sense of superiority over his coworkers, thinking that none of their troubles would ever happen to him.

Of course, he knew now how wrong his beliefs were. He'd been so focused on fulfilling the role of breadwinner that he failed to realize his wife Sachiko's misery until it was too late.

He'd caught her in bed with an old friend, which had marked the beginning of the end for them. She'd sought a divorce and, to add insult to injury, had taken sixteen-year-old Tetsuya to live with her in Kobe after winning full custody.

Long work hours and very few opportunities to take a holiday meant that he could hardly find time to drive the three hundred odd miles that would allow him to see them again.

Now, he was just another cog in the corporate machine, turning to alcohol to help numb his pain, whether at home or in a bar a couple of blocks from his workplace. It was a small yet cozy venue, with laidback staff and soft orange lights that never failed to evoke a certain warmth in him.

He noticed her sitting alone at the counter on what may have been his nineteenth or twentieth visit. She wore a dark gray overcoat as was appropriate for the winter weather. However, the rest of her appearance made her seem out of place in such a modest establishment. Her wavy and voluminous hair must have been styled at a high-end salon, and Tsutomu assumed that she had access to a great deal of money.

Whether she'd been born into wealth or had earned it through hard work didn't concern him. He just wanted someone willing to listen to his troubles and hold him close during the night, as Sachiko had once done.

He continued to study the young woman whose bright red lips were a stark contrast against her alabaster skin. Such a striking combination brought to mind a time in his childhood when he had spotted a pair of geisha holding their umbrellas and taking small steps across a cobbled street. He had never forgotten their elegance, and now he felt equally captivated by this person seated nearby.

Her beauty couldn't be denied, and he thought it a travesty that she should be lonely on this cold night. He was ready to change that, and he began by leaving his seat and alerting her to his presence.

"Miss, I don't mean to bother you, but would it be all right if I sat here?" he asked, gesturing towards the vacant stool nearby.

She turned and looked up at him with eyes that seemed to take on a golden hue in the bright light.

"Yes," she replied with a brusque nod.

Tsutomu seated himself while making an effort to avoid touching or brushing against her body. They knew next to nothing about each other, but it wouldn't be hard to win her trust if this was anything like his first date with Sachiko.

"Please forgive me for asking, but have you been here long? If not, I could buy a drink for you too."

He held out his wallet for her to see, and she fixated on it before answering. "I would appreciate that. Thank you."

He gave her a smile of reassurance, then turned his attention to the bartender to order two cups of sake.

******

Tsutomu steered his Toyota Camry into the street that had become familiar to him after three dates. The young woman he regarded as his new love sat in the passenger seat and gazed out through the open window as her house came into view. He brought the car to a stop and turned to smile at her. "Well, we're here. Any last words for tonight? Perhaps a kiss?"

She laughed in that manner he found so irresistible, then leaned over to give him a peck on the cheek. "I've had a wonderful time. I don't know how I can thank you..."

She got out of the car and started heading toward the path that led up to her porch.

Tsutomu watched her amble along while contemplating his next move. Being with her felt right, and he already found it difficult to envision a future in which she was absent.

He got out of the car and ran forward until he had reached her side. She stopped and turned to face him as her eyes reflected the light of a nearby lamp post. "Is something wrong? You seem reluctant to leave me alone."

Tsutomu sighed before uttering the words he'd been planning to say all day. "I don't have anyone waiting for me at home. You wouldn't mind if I stayed over tonight, would you?"

She tilted her head to one side as if in deep thought, then spoke up with a broad smile. "Why, of course. I was starting to think you'd never ask."

She spun around and took hurried steps toward her front door while beckoning for him to follow. "What are you waiting for? Come on!"

He rushed after her, narrowly avoiding a bothersome tree in his determination to ensure she wouldn't sleep alone. She disappeared into the darkness, and he stopped.

If she didn't turn on the light for him, then how would he know where to take off his shoes? The seconds passed, and he resigned himself to feeling his way forward while hoping for the best. He entered the house, with the moonlight being the only thing guiding him.

He began to climb the stairs and called her name a second time. She answered the call to his great relief.

"Won't you hurry? I can't wait forever..."

Tsutomu quickened his pace until he was at the top of the stairs, yet he couldn't see a single sign of her around. "Tell me where you are. I can't see a thing."

"I'm above you, silly," she responded in a playful, singsong manner.

"What do you mean? I don't understand..."

"Sweetie, don't you think it would help if you turned on the light?"

He wondered if his ears were deceiving him. He could have sworn that he'd heard some condescension in her voice. Yet, such a perception could have also stemmed from his frustration and impatience.

He fumbled around for a switch and, sure enough, found one. He flicked it down, and the ensuing brightness prompted him to squint.

"Look up at the ceiling, stupid."

Tsutomu blinked and raised his head. Clear and sticky fluid dripped down onto his shoulder, and he choked in horror at the hideous creature looming above.

"How do you like me now, lover boy?"

He placed one foot behind the other to flee, only to lose his balance and fall on his rump, which caused him to tumble backwards down the stairs, eventually hitting his head hard against the floor.

Pain shot through his body, and though he tried to pull himself up, the creature was already swinging rapidly down from the ceiling.

Its large shadow swept over him.

He screamed.