Chapter Text
“The child will be a cursed one”
The words echoed in Seiko’s ears. On one of her errands, some pissy god decided to contact her, telling her that it’s cursing her and her bloodline for insulting it. Apparently, a spirit medium who made a contract with another god can’t walk into another god’s territory all willy-nilly- which was an incredibly stupid rule, in Seiko's opinion- but nothing could be done about it.
Seiko had been informed that for such an insult, her first granddaughter would be cursed. What curse? She didn’t exactly know, the god didn’t elaborate further than “one that will make you regret crossing me”, and before she knew it, she was back at the borders of Kamigoe City.
She found herself coming to the border frequently, offerings in hand and an incense burning, she prayed and prayed, begging this god for forgiveness, or to at the very least lessen this curse. But she received no response.
Seiko lit up another cigarette as she watched the empty night sky. How will she break the news to her son? “Hey, I fucked up, spirit medium bullshit, your soon-to-be-daughter is cursed now”?! She let the smoke obscure her vision as she sighed.
“What kind of curse?! Answer me!” She yelled into the abyss of the now empty shrine.
“One that will teach you respect. And make you regret crossing me.” The voice whispered back, and suddenly, she was back at the train station nearing Kamigoe.
Fuck. Seiko threw her cigarette away and lit up her incense instead, kneeling towards the shrine and clapping her hands in front of her. If she won’t get an answer from that god, she’ll ask her own.
On her knees, burning incense in hand and prayers spilling from her mouth endlessly, Seiko begged the god of Kamigoe for their presence, and answers to her prayers.
Nothing.
Seiko sighed, not the first time. She opened her eyes with a grumble, turning off the incense and taking off her headdress. “I wouldn’t be so quick to judge if I were you, Seiko Ayase.” An ethereal, echoing voice spoke from within the shrine. Seiko jumped to her feet, facing the open shrine door, two glaring yellow eyes met hers from the darkness.
Seiko immediately fell back to her knees, head pushed to the ground in a dogeza position. “Please, forgive me.” She grumbled, the voice boomed with laughter, “You can stand, Seiko-chan, you know I’m not that mad.” The voice spoke back, dropping all its formalities. Seiko scoffed in response, standing back up, dusting herself and popping a new cigarette in her mouth. “Bastard, making me wait so long.” She stepped into the shrine, closing the door behind her and lighting the cigarette, letting the small flame’s light illuminate the dark, wooden room.
Once Seiko’s eyes adjusted to the dark, she was blinded with the force of the sun by a flowing mane of snow-white fur in the shape of a wolf and blaring yellow eyes. “So, you wanted to talk to me?~” The creature grinned, revealing a row of sharp, canine teeth. Seiko nodded, “‘m sure you know by now, my kid’s expecting-”
“And what a joy it is! A mini-Seiko for your own mini-Seiko!” The beast bellowed, clapping two black paws together enthusiastically. Seiko cleared her throat, prompting the jolly critter to quiet down. “As I said, my kid’s expecting a daughter, but one of my missions went south, and put this curse on her.”
The canidae rumbled, sitting down properly, its eyes narrowing and the mischievous glint in them subsiding. “Is that so?” It inquired, tilting its furry head sideways. “Yup, I was wondering if you could do anything ‘bout it.” Seiko took a drag of her cigarette, letting the ash that gathered at its end fall to the tatami-covered floor. The wolf hummed in thought, a little growl escaping its throat. “I’ll see what I can do for you. But I warn you, Seiko-chan, I cannot interfere with another god’s doing, only they can lift the curse. But knowing my comrades- I doubt they will.”
Seiko sighed, taking one last drag of her cigarette. “‘Preciate your help, Amiko.” She blew the smoke, watching as the wolfish figure in front of her faded just like it. She clapped her hands in front of her twice, mumbled a little “thank you”, and left the shrine.
Once she reached her room, Seiko let out a shuddering breath and collapsed on her futon, choking back her tears. What will she tell her daughter in law and son? What will they even do? They’re not spirit sensitive. If only her husband was still here…
No. She shouldn’t be moping around. Nothing left to do but wait for an answer from Amiko, nothing but help her daughter in law in every way she can. Seiko jumped back to her feet, pulling out every scroll she owns about curses and whatnot. How to deal with cursed furniture? Nope. Taming a cursed animal? Not that either. Dealing with a cursed pregnancy? Well, isn’t that convenient.
Seiko sat down and read like her life depended on it. Next thing she knew- the first rays of the sun were blinding her, as if she was sitting in a dark room and someone turned on the lights. Well, because that’s how it was.
Seiko hissed as she blinked her eyes rapidly, trying to adjust them to the light as fast as possible so she could resume her reading. So close, she’s so close to what she needs- she’s sure of it.
A few more minutes, and Seiko reached the end of the scroll. Her eyes widened and her brows furrowed. She tried pulling more paper out of the wooden cylinder containing it, and tried looking at the back for more information. Nothing. “No. No way that’s it.” She examined the scroll more carefully, still coming up with no results to the questions buzzing in her head.
She sighed, dropping the scroll onto her futon, taking off her reading glasses and rubbing her eyes. Taking a deep, albeit shaky breath, Seiko put her glasses back up and stood up on trembling, asleep legs, and trudged her way to the hallway. Punching the numbers on the keypad, Seiko picked up the handset, foot tapping impatiently as the receiver rang.
“Uh… hello?” Came a groggy male voice from the line, irritation lacing it.
“I see you get your attitude from your mama.” Seiko snarked, her lips tilting upwards in a small smirk.
“M-Mom! What a pleasant surprise! No, it’s nothing, honey, you can go back to sleep…” He finished in a hushed tone, probably speaking to his just-as-groggy, and if not more irritated wife.
“I’ll keep it short, squirt, I’m popping by for a visit, figured you and yer sweetheart could use the help. ‘Kay, bye.” She slammed the handset against the stand, barely giving her son the chance to respond.
Seiko inhaled deeply, then hoisted herself up back from the wall and stretched her aching back. “Welp, looks like I’ve got some packin’ to do.” She grumbled to herself, trotting back to her room and grabbing every talisman, incense and magical charm she could fit in a suitcase. She glanced back at the open scrolls in her room, grabbing a few of them, making sure she grabbed the one about cursed pregnancies.
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“Well no wonder your wife’s suffering, you aren’t feeding her properly!” Seiko chastised the man, a cigarette hanging from her mouth. “Well don’t just stand there, get my suitcase, at least be a little useful, you rotten tangerine!” She yelled over her shoulder as she made her way to the kitchen.
“Always a pleasure seeing you, Mom.” The man- Saika- grumbled as he dragged the suitcase to the not-so vacant guest room, wheezing at its weight. “Jeez, Ma! What the hell did’ja put in that thing?!” He pant-growled, throwing the suitcase in the room and making his way back to the living room.
“Got a temper just like his mother, huh?” The woman, Misaki, piped up from the couch, her brown hair sprawled in every direction on the navy couch. “Where were you hiding it all this time, Sai-kun?” She giggled, turning off the rambunctious laughter of the show she was previously watching and hoisting herself up. Saika huffed, laying on the couch where his wife previously laid and rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Can you blame me? First phone call in ages and it’s to announce she’s dropping by out of the blue and uninvited.”
Misaki chuckled, making her way to the kitchen where Seiko was sharpening a knife, every crevice and cranny around her covered in cooking supplies. “Don’t listen to him, you’re always invited to our humble abode, Seiko.” She gave a little bow, wincing as her hip cracked. Seiko immediately spun to face her. “What’re you doing here, sweetums? You should be resting.”
Misaki waved her hand dismissively, smiling weakly as she stood up straight again. “Just wanted to give you a proper welcome, since someone is being ungrateful.” She heard Saika grumble something unintelligible coming from the living room, but paid no mind. Seiko just sighed dramatically, “can’t believe him, his mother offers him help with the pregnancy, and all he does is complain.” Seiko stuck the knife into the cutting board, turning the corner to glare at Saika from the sliding door of the kitchen.
He winced under his mother’s harsh glare, but said nothing, only closing in on himself a bit from embarrassment. Seiko huffed and went back into the packed kitchen, grabbing Miso paste, a filet of salmon and some seaweed. “Look at you, you’re all skin, bones and a baby cooking up; has he even been feeding ya?” Seiko pushed her glasses further down her nose, examining Misaki like a piece of fish at the market.
“Mom!” Saika yelled from the couch, probably sitting up straight in fury. Misaki cackled, “I’m alright, Seiko. Though, it is nice having you around to cook meals.” She wiggled her eyebrows, giggling as her husband yelled at her this time. Seiko huffed with laughter, but quickly composed herself. “Alright, it was nice chatting, but I’m sure you know by now that I need space to work my magic.”
“I read you loud and clear, chef.” Misaki saluted, and walked back to her spot on the couch, falling into the arms of her exasperated husband. Seiko smiled to herself; she missed her family. Living all alone in the shrine could get, well, lonely. She immediately threw herself into cooking, taking a peek at the scroll for recipes for cursed pregnancies.
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“Pardon my intrusion, Seiko-chan.”
Seiko rubbed her eyes, sitting up straight on her futon and grabbing her glasses. “What is it, Amiko? The kid’s expecting anytime soon, and I need all the rest I can get.” She grumbled, glaring at the sheepish looking wolf. “So sorry, but I have a response from the god that cursed you and your family.”
Seiko immediately perked up, all the sleepiness in her body disappearing in a flash. “What’d they say? Did they lift the curse? Or at least lessen it?” She shot questions at the messenger. Amiko lowered their blaring gaze, “I warned you my comrades could be… harsh. Unfortunately, the miserable bastard refused to lift the curse. I am here to break the news, and assist in every way I can.”
Seiko exhaled shakily, plopping back on the futon. “And how long will that take?” She mumbled, eyes glued to the ceiling and hands sprawled on the mattress. “However long it takes. I have an eternity, my dear.” She glared at the wolf. “Well, I don’t. What, you’ll watch over her after I pass, too?”
Amiko huffed, “Apologies. I do come with some good news as well, I found a seal that would repress the curse, but to work, it must be in direct contact with the cursed individual.” He lifted one paw, shoving his muzzle in the patch of fur in the pit between his arm and torso, pulling out an ofuda with a drawing of a demon. “I know it’s crude, but if anyone can make it work, it’s you, Seiko-chan.” He poked Seiko’s cheek with one black paw, offering her the ofuda that lay between his teeth.
Seiko growled, grabbing the paper and examining it. “Seems legit ‘nuff. Thanks, Ami.” She rubbed his head, tousling his pure white fur and soaking in the pleased rumble that erupted from his chest. All there was left to do was wait.
Turns out, waiting didn’t take all that long- considering Misaki went into labour only half an hour after Amiko came. It was the roughest night Seiko probably had in her entire life. Taking care of a shrieking Misaki while her son was pacing a hole into the ground outside, holding her hand as she passed out of exhaustion as the doctors took her newborn daughter away.
Having to hear the news that her daughter in law passed away sometime during the birth.
Having to tell her own son that his wife died giving birth through her own tears.
Having to calm a wailing, less than a week old Momo as she and her father lowered Misaki into a six foot hole in the ground.
Having to keep her tears quiet as she read the note glued to Saika’s door.
Having to pack up more than she could carry and move herself and her granddaughter and a 132 pound ball of ethereal fur back to the shrine.
One hell of a night, alright.
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Seiko was lucky that Amiko came when he did. Not only did he help Seiko out by giving her the seal- that up until now she sewed into Momo’s swaddle blanket- to keep the curse at bay, he also served as great entertainment for the young troublemaker.
Sure, having a messenger of the gods with omniscient powers beyond mortal comprehension playing a dog for the foreseeable future wasn’t really appropriate, but the bastard owed her, and he said that he’d stay and help with little Momo’s curse.
Of course, Amiko explained to Seiko about the curse some more. As incomprehensible as its deeper meaning was, having a demon inside Momo was a simple enough explanation, and having it locked up using the seals Amiko created was easy enough. As long as Momo wore the seal, the curse wouldn't be a problem.
At first it was easy- Momo couldn’t be separated from her old swaddle blanket, so stitching the seal in it while she slept was a breeze, but as she grew up and matured, Seiko had to find more creative ways to keep the seal.
As little Momo grew, so did her sense of fashion. It seemed like every week she and her “gal-pals” went on a shopping spree, and she came back with a whole new wardrobe in tow; so sewing the seal into her clothes was off the table.
It was only in her second year of middle school that Momo finally found herself an “identity” of sorts, and finally settled on the Gyaru lifestyle of short skirts, baggy clothes and many accessories. It still was no easy task for Seiko to find something that wasn’t Momo’s uniform to put the seal in, since Momo wore something different every day, and that there are weekends.
That was the status quo, until Momo came back home squealing with glee with a little bag in her hands. The black, lace-like choker with a small turquoise gem at its back quickly became Momo’s favorite article of clothing, a staple in every “fashionable” outfits she wore (although Seiko herself thought they were tacky and overzealous).
Seiko was so lucky for her granddaughter’s horrendous sense of fashion. All she had to do was carve the seal into the gem’s back, and she’ll be done with worrying about the curse for at least a while, and go back to worrying about her bringing boys home or sneaking out.
Right?