A Ghost Story

Chapter 7


Gojyo was back in his dream state again, seeing the same colonial man riding the horse outside the window. Only this time, the area inside was filled with all his stuff. He smirked and flopped on the couch, resting his arms behind his back. Gojyo noticed that he did not see Hakkai anywhere so he called for him.

“Hey Hakkai! You here?” Sure enough, Hakkai came walking out of the kitchen with a loaf of fresh baked bread. He smiled when he saw Gojyo.

“Oh, hello again, Gojyo.”

“You are in my mind again.” He sighed “I can’t blame you. You’ve been alone for over 200 years, you must want to talk.” Hakkai placed the bread on the opened window frame to cool.

“I guess I am a little. I know I was always one to stay my distance from others and keep to myself. But from what I have gathered about you, Gojyo, is that you need someone.” Gojyo scoffed at that.

“Get the fuck out of here! I don’t need anybody! I’m fine by myself.” Hakkai sat down next to him.

“I do not think that is the case.” He smiled softly. “I believe at one time I thought just like you did, but something changed me…I just do not know what. I think that deep down, you are looking for someone Gojyo. Someone who will accept you for who you are.” Gojyo looked at him in shock and suddenly stood up to tower over him.

“I think you are going a little to far into my head! It’s not possible that you could know all that stuff without digging deep into my head to figure it out!” Hakkai stood up and faced him, not backing down.

“I did not pry into your mind, Gojyo. You let me in, whether you wanted to or not. I just know the type of person you are, Gojyo! Like I said, I believe I was once just like you but I changed!” he took his hands. “Listen to me, Gojyo. I am not judging you, nor am I trying to find out all your secrets. I just…recognized what you are feeling in here.” He placed his hand over Gojyo’s heart.

“Get off of me!” Gojyo pushed him away. “Your ghostly shit might make me have a heart attack or something!” He stormed away from Hakkai, heading up the steps. Hakkai followed him into Gojyo’s room.

“I do not understand why you are so mad.” He said to Gojyo, who had his back to him and looking out the window. Gojyo did not answer him but continued to stand there. “Gojyo, I really do not understand.” He walked up next to him. “Are you afraid of something?” Gojyo still did not answer him but glared at the outside. Hakkai looked out the window too and they both stood in silence for a bit until Gojyo spoke.

“Hey…going back to what you said earlier…you don’t come off as a bad person.” Hakkai looked at him. “You said you think you were a bad person, but I don’t see how that can be. There must be another reason.” Hakkai closed his eyes and smiled.

“Perhaps you are right, my friend. You yourself think you are a bad person, but you are not. I guess in some ways, you and I are the same.” Gojyo finally smiled.

“I think you’re right. Sorry I got so mad before…I was just, surprised I guess. Surprised that you hit the nail on the head…even I didn’t really know that about myself until you said something. Guess I just kept it hidden all this time, or didn’t want to admit it.” Hakkai wrapped his arm around Gojyo’s shoulders.

“Lets really be friends, Gojyo. We both need a friend.”

“Yeah, we’re friends.” He wrapped his arm around Hakkai’s shoulder. “I guess I don’t have to worry about you going anywhere, huh?” Hakkai chuckled.

“Nope. You are stuck with me, my friend.”


The next day, Gojyo was finishing up decorating the house and putting the smaller things in their proper places. He was finished by mid afternoon and left Hakkai to guard the house while he went to pick up some groceries. He had to drive around the town for a bit until he came to a general store, which seemed to be the only food market in town. Parking the truck in a hopelessly small spot, (hoping no one else will park near him) he went into the store and looked around. No one else was in there except for the cashier.

“Hello sir. Haven’t seen you around here before.”

“Yeah, I’m new. I just moved in a couple days ago.” Gojyo replied as he walked up to the counter, seeing cigarettes behind the cashier. “Got any Hi-Lites back there?”

“Yup, we got them.”

“Okay, I’ll get them when I’m done. Hey, are there any, like, supermarkets around here?” he asked “I saw a liquor store, but it looks pretty small.” The man laughed.

"You must be from the city. The only supermarket we have here is a bit ways out of town. That’s the city area, you’re in the country. But my stuff is just as good! My produce is always fresh! And my prices are cheaper too!” Gojyo grinned.

“That’s always a good thing.”

“Yeah, I keep my prices low for honest reasons. So where do you live?”

“I live out on Locus Street. House 97.” The mans’ eyes widened.

“You live there?” Gojyo frowned.

“Uh, yeah.”

“They say a ghost haunts it!” Gojyo rolled his eyes. He knew the ghost they were talking about was Hakkai, but he was not going to let on that he knew.

“Well, I haven’t seen any ghosts. You guys just live in an old town with old stories.” And idea suddenly hit him. “But don’t you guys, have like-uh? Legends and stuff?”

“You mean the one about your house?”

“I guess, since you said a ghost haunts it. There’s always a legend behind these things.” The man scratched his head.

“Well, no one really knows. The only way to find out would be to look at the towns old records from when the place was built.” Gojyo’s eyes lit up.

“Hey, where can I find them?!” The man was surprised by Gojyo’s sudden enthusiasm.

“Uh, you can’t access them. They’re behind closed doors at the library. You’d need special permission from the town community leaders. And they’re a bunch of assholes and won’t grant you that privilege.”

‘Shit!’ Gojyo said to himself. “Alright, thanks man. I’m gonna go take care of my shopping now.”

Gojyo picked up what he needed and paid the clerk. He thought about the records as he was packing the bags in the passenger side. Where there is a library, there is a librarian. And since most men are not librarians, that means there is a woman behind the desk. And if there is a woman, there is room for Gojyo’s charms. He grinned to himself and hopped in the car to find the library.

After a few constant circles and same trees, he managed to find the tiny library. Once again having to park in a small spot and cursing old fashioned parking lots, he entered the library. He had to duck his head because the door was a bit too low for his height. The old floor boards creaked as he walked up to the desk and sure enough, there was a middle aged woman there. He put on his charming smile as she looked at him over her glasses.

“Hey there, young lady.” She looked unimpressed by his words and looks.

“May I help you find a book?”

“Yeah, I was wondering if you had any old books and records about this town. I’m new to the place and I’m curious about how it came to be.” She tapped her pile of papers on the desk.

“Sorry young man. Those books are under lock and key. We have a small article about the starting of this town on the wall there.” Gojyo folded his arms on the desk and smiled.

“Aw, come on don’t be like that. Is there something top secret in those books?”

“I’m sorry sir, but you can not see those without papers from the township committee. Good day sir.” She put her nose up. Gojyo’s eyebrow twitched in frustration.

“Yeah, yeah.” He said and walked out, spitting on the sidewalk as he went to his truck and headed home.