I'm still in shock, life couldn't get any harder or worse. Yet life had always manage to show how it can get worse. I had to walk home alone from a long day of school since Nēchan had to run off to her after school job to help keep food on the table. Not even being home for ten minutes I heard a knock at the door, it was the landlord who stood on the doorway holding a eviction notice and a letter from our dad.
"Gone on a journey, don't look for me-Dad"
I was shaking a bit as i stood outside of the cafe Nēchan was working, holding my bags and her's of what i could grab. I shake my head and took a deep breath and walked towards the door of the small cafe.
'Ding, Ding'
The front door of the shop opened and I could see it was her coming out of the shop, my older twin sister. I wasn't quite that ready to tell her why I was outside her work and hadn't thought about how i was gonna tell her. I couldn't even move from my spot on the sidewalk.
"Nami? What are you doing here? why do you hav-"
she couldn't finish as I drop the bags i was holding and run into her and hug her tightly. I was afraid she'd slip away like mom, like dad did.
"Nami?"
"Nechan!"
i cried into her as she just gently hug me close and pat down my hair and just stood there and let me cry. I wailed out everything that went on while she was at work and couldn't control my tears from stopping.
"Oh Nami, I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me" she held me closely and gave my forehead a kiss and continued to comfort me.
Having her beside me was the best remedy i needed after losing everything we had. She pulled me away from her and wiped the remaining tears away from my face. I could see the calm expression on her face as she softly smiled at me, she was truly beautiful.
We had the same eyes and nose, her hair was longer than mine and curled at the bottom, her bangs were similar but softly framed her face gently. Her name fit her perfectly, Nadeshiko Momozono my big sister.
"Come on Nami, let's grab our bags and think of plan okay?" she said with a smile again and wipe away the last tear in my eyes and took off her big coat and draped it over my shoulders.
I nod my head and hold onto her hand tightly as we grab our bags and walk away from her work, we managed to walk to a park where mom had taken us to many times and sat down on a bench. I could see Nēchan had goosebumps on her bare arms but didn't complain about the cold night.
"So the landlord came and evicted us giving you the eviction letter and the note that dad had left as well?" she probed trying to get more detail about what had happened.
"Yeah, dad's gone and said not to look for him, we don't even get to use the house for another night either, and all i could grab was some clothes and our school stuff"
"Did you grab-"
I knew what she was talking about and i smile.
"Of course, it's right in here safe and sound" i said smiling and patting her bag that was by her feet. That held a precious gift she had received when she was little.
"Good, well let's see. I don't know if any cocoon housing is open this late, that i'm sure any of the shelter's near by have a curfew for when we can actually put in time and papers for and probably won't let us in for the night either."
Nēchan sat there thinking for a while trying to come up with a plan for us to be for the night. me on the other hand, the shock wore off and i felt like a fire was light from within me and all i could feel was anger and pure rage. I stood up from the bench and screamed.
"That stinking old man! How could he have done this to us!"
"Nami, we'll figure something out, i know i'm not happy about him either but right now we need to think of-"
"Someone help!"
We both stop talking as we heard someone calling out for help. looking around the park we hear a dog barking not too far from where we sat, in a tree was a man who was holding onto for life as the dog below barks at him.
"Please you gotta help me! can you please get that dog out of here?"
Nēchan stood up and had walk over to where the dog and the man were and shooed the barking dog away, it trotted off away and the man looked relieved before jumping down from the tree with a 'thud'
He sighed before standing up.
"You're a lifesaver, thank you. I had just come back to this town in a while and that dog came out of nowhere and started barking at me"
"So you must be afraid of dogs?" I asked as i walked closer and stood beside my sister
"Kinda, yeah. I guess the people around here don't feel welcoming towards me"
Nadeshiko tilted her head to the side.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you both local's as well?"
"Um, yes" i said as i gripped my sister's arm and she continued to speak.
"Well, sort of at the moment we're looking for a place to live at the moment" the thought of us not having a home anymore ripped a new scar in me and everything came flooding out of my mouth.
Nēchan just pulled me in a hug and rubbed my back.
We some how manage to make it back to the bench and sat down while my mouth ran a hundred miles an hour with everything that just happened.
"Wow, your father was in some serious debt, i'm sure you hate him intensely for running away like that" he seemed to sob a little on our behalf but neither one of us gave an actual answer to him.
"Well, i'm embarrassed to admit it but i've abandon my home as well" it struck a note with us as we both listen to him.
'Why would you abandon a place that makes you smile and feel safe?' i wonder.
"It's been decades since then, there is no telling as to how everyone is doing. Tomoe is bound to jump kick me if i show my face" he went on
'Tomoe? is that his wife?' i continue to ponder
the sound of the train that was going by was the only other sound besides the crickets that echoed in the night.
"But you still have a home you can go back to" my sister spoke up and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. i could tell she gave him a smile that was only given when she knew we needed reassurance.
"It sounds amazing, we don't even have that or any other family we can go home to. But my sister and I still try to figure things out for ourselves." i laughed and sis giggled a bit. we're both strong headed and do our best to keep our heads above water. Even if the water is over our heads we still try.
"I can give you my home, i don't mind"
"Huh" i stare at him as he stands up and turns to both of us.
"The house shouldn't be left unattended forever, and if you both were there i wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. Most importantly" he turned to Nēchan and brushed back her bangs and kissed her forehead, and did the same to mine.
"You're both more worthy of that house then i am" Sis seemed to be stunned by the gesture he just did.
"Here, try going to the house i mapped out for you. If you tell them that Mikage sent you, they'll be sure to welcome you. you'll be their new ladies and mistresses" he walked off away from us and then was gone before we could blink.
"Nēchan look at the map she was handed and then to me.
"Their what?"
"I believe he said their Lady and mistress?"
she raised her eyebrows before looking down at the hand drawn map in her hands, she sighed but started to smile once again.
"Let's go Nami, we might as well go take a look and go from there okay?" she said with a smile and stood up carrying our bags and the map and started to walk away.
"We don't have anywhere else to go, might as well"
We follow the directions carefully, thankfully Nadeshiko had a great sense of direction and soon arrive at a small shrine after a long flight of steps. The tori gate looked damage and was chipping away slowly, the shrine in front of us looks like it was standing on its last legs the property alone was in poor shape. The chōzuya was empty and looked like it became a home for spider's.
We stare at the poor building in silence before speaking up obviously irritated.
"We got played" we both said in perfect unison Nēchan and I turned around as i started to shout
"I swear we can never trust another adult again!"
"Lord Mikage!"
I stop in my tracks and Nēchan did to, She put herself as a barrier in front of me for whatever we heard together.
"Welcome back home lord Mikage"
There was a sudden flash of light and warmth and we both turned around and see flames dancing. I felt a chill run up my spine and grabbed a hold of Nēchan and ran backwards.
"Ghost!" i felt my the back of my heel hit something and soon we both gasp and stumble into a room of some kind. the flames outside glowed and spread its heat in the late night.
Nēchan groaned as she sat up and pushed the bags off her and sat up rubbing her head.
"Nami you okay? you startled me when-"
"Indeed it is you"
Nēchan stop speaking and jumped up and stood in front of me as we saw a silhouette of a shadow behind us. I gasp and hold on to the back of her shirt as i slowly stand up. Her arms were spread behind her ready to tell me to run if need be.
"Where have you been? i've waited some time for your return. twenty years feels like an absolute eternity to me, how about you?"
I gasp as the the back of the head turn to face us and there stood a man taller then my sister and I dressed in a traditional clothing and had fox ears and a tail, he looked mad.
"Die you fiend!" he ran over to us and had his hands over our heads screaming at both of us.
I started to scream and felt Nēchan jump and scream as I did before she push me away from her as the man stood in front of Nēchan screaming at us. It went suddenly went quiet as all I heard was a sound of something being hit.
The man stood before her staring at her for a while and raised a hand up to his face as he felt his cheek which i could faintly see had been hit.
"Well you're definitely not Mikage"
I moved back over by sis as she stepped away slowly, fist still tight and ready to throw another hit.
two red flames appeared and turned into small children with strange mask on.
"What impossible"
"I do believe Mikage has never hit me in the face before, usually it's just a fan or yelling at me" said the man as his ears twitch.
One of the children floated over to Nēchan and myself before they gently move our bangs out away from our forehead, i see a glow eliminating.
"Master Tomoe, as you can see the mark of the land god is here on the foreheadexactly where is should be, we also have the mark of the Flora god as well"
the other one floated near by and pointed at Nēchan as well.
"And i sense Master Mikage spiritual energy"
Nēchan looked at me before turning her attention back to the man that stood before her.
"And yet, that does not make them him"
he sounded very disappointed but sat down on the floor and glared at me and Nēchan before speaking again.
"Now then women, tell me who are you?"
slowly everything began to sink in and i felt my mouth fly open once more.
"Supernatural things are everywhere! we're in a yokai shrine! Nēchan!" i felt my sis jump at my abrupt shouting but patted my head, turning her attention back to the spirit's that gave us a scare. Well, more of me a scare.
"This is my little twin sister, Nanami Momozono, I am Nadeshiko Momozono. We met someone by whom you call Mikage? He gave us directions to here and said we can stay" Nadeshiko was very calm and polite about the whole situation while i couldn't keep my mouth from blurting things out.
Nadeshiko had pulled out the paper that Mikage had given to us and handed it to the spiritual child near her, who then passed it off the the man before us.
"Look master!"
"Yes, this moronic handwriting has to be Mikage's"
Nadeshiko stood up and spoke to the fox and little spirit's.
"He said since we had nowhere else to go we should come and live here"
Nadeshiko's POV
I stood in front of Nanami and took a silent deep breathe in as i got a better look at the fox yokai in front of me.
His hair was short in an a-line cut and was silver-white, his fox ears and tail appear to match his hair, his eyes were small slits that held deep violet coloring to them, he was dressed in traditional clothing that suited him very well. He held a yellow gold fan to his face that had intricate floral design's.
Even if he did appear irritated with us, more with me then Nanami because she didn't punch him like i did. He was stunning, i felt his angry gaze turn from, staring off at the wall to directly to mine. I heard my sister gasp a little she seemed to be a bit surprised by his stare.
"Just so you know the man you met is the land god of this region, and this shrine is the home of that land god" he continued to fan himself with his arm crossed, not happy about the news that we're asked to come and live here.
"The fact that he sent you both here as a new ladies and mistresses, could only mean he left you both as the land god and Flora god in his place!" there was more fear in that sentence then it appeared to be.
Nanami was being showered by the two smaller spirits with flowers and confetti and in a daze like i was. I felt the confetti land in my hair and flowers petals on my clothes. I shook my head to get them off of me and stared at the fox yokai in front of me.
"Wait hold on!" Nanami shout's
"Sis you really need to keep a track on that mouth of your's" i thought as i turned to face my little sister.
"You said we're Land god's and Flora god's right? We're just normal high school students Nanami and Nadeshiko Momozono, How and why did we become gods?"
It honestly didn't cross my mind on how we became god's of the region within the last two hours, i thought about it while bringing my thumb to my lips and biting it a little thinking about how. I small memory of Mikage kiss our foreheads came to mind.
'Is that how we became gods? A simple kiss on the forehead?' i thought some more before the voice of the fox broke through my thoughts.
"You call these gods?"
I turned my attention to Tomoe, who the spirits referred to, as he was very close and personal in my space, gripping my chin gently but making me look up at him as his face was close enough for me to feel his breath on my lips.
"What could these two pathetic looking things like them can do? At most they could weed the yard or count the money offerings. Unacceptable!" he shouts in my face and try to appear bigger than me than he already was.
"But these ladies-"
"Were referred by lord Mikage himself"
"I could care not throw them out!"
I had enough of his rude attitude and smack his hand away, giving him a hard stare and put my arm in front of Nanami before i spoke up.
"Look i get that you're not happy about us being here, however that does not give you permission to be rude and-"
Unfortunately i was cut off by Nanami whose mouth went off the train tracks again.
"I bet a run down shrine like this doesn't get money offerings! You couldn't pay us to do it!"
I turned to my sister and smacked her up side the head, I was gonna have to have a talk to her about what she says when she's mad.
"Nanami!" I scolded and she became small and quiet and didn't look at me in the eye as she knew i was now mad at her.
I turn back to Tomoe and see him not a bit happier than he was before, but a hint of shock by the insult that flew from my younger siblings mouth.
I could hear the two small spirits trying to talk to Nanami as she ranted 'No' very childish over and over again.
"If you intend to give these creatures a place here, i shall leave this shrine" Tomoe said coldly as he used a fan as a barrier from us seeing his face.
"Master Tomoe!"
Both little spirits seem upset and torn between having us stay and keeping him from leaving.
"I am Mikage's Familiar, i do not intend to serve anyone else. If you like as a stray dog to step in as my replacement."
"Wait! Don't go!" i shouted at Tomoe who walked away in the darkness of the room and a blue fire consumed him and he was gone.
Once he left the darkness in the room had started to vanish as well and could see how empty and dirty the room was. I turned back to face the little spirits and Nanami and sighed heavily.
"So um, do you two think you can put us up for the night at least? We can make a plan as to what we will do in the morning."
"With pleasure my lady!" they both said in perfect unison.
'Well they seem nice enough to let us stay here and seem more than overjoyed to have us stay here too' I turned my attention to Nanami and sigh as well before putting a smile on my face.
"Nanami, it's been a long day and a even longer night. Let's get some rest and we will figure things out in the morning as well as a small talk in the morning too about what you say. I'm far too tired to talk about it tonight but please at least think about what you say okay?" i said as i patted her head and follow the spirits to a room for us to be in for the evening.
I awoke with the sound of bird chirping and the bugs in the area buzzing around starting their morning, it was time for me to get up as well. I woke up earlier than Nami did, it wasn't just for school or for making our lunches but was so ask those two little spirits a question.
Thankfully when i had awoken they're at the end of my mat awaiting for me, I smile they seem to be the sweetest little spirits.
"Good Morning Lady goddess of Flora Nadeshiko" they both chime to me in a sweet tone.
"Morning, Before anything else i have a few questions i'm hoping you can answer for me"
I smile back as i sit up right from the bed and lightly brush my fingers through my hair, i sit and talk to them.
"First off, Thank you for putting my sister and I up for the night. I do apologize for my little sister's poor choice of words last night, she'll be having a chat with me later."
"It is no problem at all Lady Nadeshiko, we're both overjoyed to have the land god and the flora god back with us at this shrine." said the smaller spirit that appears to be a girl.
"Second, i would like to know your names and what kind of spirits you both are" I ask calmly as they both float around me with their masks on their faces.
"We're Will o wisps, I am Onikiri and-"
"I am Kotetsu-"
"We're your loyal spirits of the Mikage shrine here to help and serve you and lady Nanami"
"You're both the sweetest little spirit's i have met so far, even with the rude fox Tomoe last night. I bet he's a decent person, when he wants to be that is" i said with a soft smile.
"Okay and my last question is this: As a Flora god here at this shrine can you please tell me my duties here? If my sister and I are to be god's of this shrine i'd like to know some parts of my job."
Kotetsu and Onikiri both looked at me with almost a tearful expression as best as their little mask could make.
I looked over towards the sliding door with the window above, little birds fly off and i see the early morning light peering in slowly.
"I went to bed last night thinking about Nanami's and my situation. The options i had thought of for another housing situation all fall apart. We couldn't be in a cocoon house because they only take up to a certain age. Shelter's require paperwork which is fine, but they have a curfew and they go past usually the time i get off work. We would be kicked out and back on the street's, i can't do that to Nanami."
"Oh lady Nadeshiko!"
"If we're to stay here, i'm going to put the effort into it. I want Nanami to have a stable place she can call home, have meals every day and night in, and sleep without worry. I want the best for my little sister"
I turn my attention back towards Kotetsu and Onikiri who appeared to be crying, they jump in my lap and tell me all about my duties as a god. They also told me that since Tomoe left that me and Nanami are the only one's who can protect the shrine from any danger at this time.
"Oh one last thing if you don't mind, Who and What is Tomoe?"
"Master Tomoe use to be master Mikage's Familiar, he once was a wild fox, but he was brought upon this shrine to serve and protect in replacement over a lion dog"
"That's right, Mikage doesn't like dogs does he"
I smile thanking them for their knowledge and decided to get to work. Onikiri had lead me to the kitchen and found little bit of food that was enough for one person, i decided to make sis breakfast and then get started on cleaning up the temple.
"Kotetsu, Onikiri, will you both please take this to my sister, she needs to eat before she can get up and join me for cleaning the shrine."
"But what about yourself lady Nadeshiko?"
"I'll get some food later for myself and for all of us to have dinner, even for the fox i'll get some for him as well."
Smiling i had grabbed the broom and headed out towards the front of the shrine to sweep up the leaves and clean up the yard.
I started cleaning the hallways with a damp cloth, before i knew it Nanami had ran over to me ready to clean and said she'd take care of it and the hall of worship. She looked a bit panic, i put my hand on her shoulder and smiled at her before she continued to clean.
"Nanami, did you enjoy breakfast?" she looked at me and smiled as big as she could.
"Yeah! It was great! Thank you Nēchan. Did you get a bite to eat as well?" Nanami asked she always cared for me as much as i did her.
"I got plenty to eat, i'll be picking up some more groceries for us later to make lunch and dinner for us okay" i said as i stood up and headed to the yard to go pull weeds.
I slide the back door to the yard open and see a small pond and patches of grass with a bunch of weed's growing around it. Not a single sign of flora plants nearby it was very empty and almost sad.
"Look's like i'll have to find a way to get some flower's here to make it more bright and colorful" i hop down and place the dust pan i brought with me down on the ground and started to work in sections of the yard.
"Well cleaning up a shrine as a price for a place to stay doesn't seem that terrible-ow!" i pull my hand back as i had grabbed a weed with thorns and see i had gotten a small cut on my fingers.
"Well that's not surprising there, good job Nadeshiko"
"So you don't know how to properly weed, what a traject useless girl"
I scowl towards my right but ignore his comment and continue to weed the yard as best as i could. Not going to give him any satisfaction of his words.
"What do you want, i thought you left already"
"You'll never fulfill the duties of a land god or floral god, why don't you two head back home before you're both force to admit defeat"
I can tell he's smiling, it makes me so mad and sick to my stomach. I understand he doesn't want us here but that's still not an excuse to be this rude towards us.
"That's because we don't have a home we can go back to" i said as i continue to pull weed's ignoring the best that i can of his irritation comments that were slowly crawling up my back and getting into my head.
"Thanks to our father's debt's the house was seized and we were kicked out"
I felt a soft breeze and silence, did i actually get him to back off?
'Home.. this is our home now.. I refuse for Nanami and i to be on the streets because of our ungrateful fath-' my thought's were cut off by suddenly being kicked forward and standing up.
"Not my problem" Tomoe said as he vanished once more.
"Hey!" i said as i turned around but only saw the little essence of his fire as he was no longer right there.
I sighed as fighting with a stubborn fox that wasn't even there wasn't going to help me in the slightest. I finish weeding the yard and throw out the weed's and head inside and clean my cut on my finger.
I return back toward the front of the shrine where Kotestu and Onikiri said they'd meet me to talk about my other job. I was dress back in my dark denim skinny jeans, my black cami and had over that a off the shoulder gray long sleeve shirt. I pulled my hair over my shoulders and was braiding it as i walk toward the Haiden (Hall of worship).
I tie my hair off and see Kotetsu and Onikiri talking to Nanami about the other parts of her job. I sat on the floor listening as well. A third voice came to play but i couldn't see anyone else. I turned my attention to outside where i see a elderly woman praying and i can hear her prayer.
"Dear god, i'm here to pray for my daughter, please allow her to give birth to a healthy child"
"That woman, i heard her thought's, did you as well Nēchan?"
"Yes, i did"
I thought about it some more before Kotetsu and Onikiri went on to explain that this is a very important part of the job of a god. We sit in the shrine and listen to wish from the heart of the worshipers.
Kotetsu brought over a stack of booklets and went on to explain that Tomoe had writing down all the wishes in the last twenty years since Mikage had left of those who came to the shrine and prayed. There had been a decrease in followers coming but they still get a couple every now and then.
I grabbed a book and opened it and saw the beautiful handwriting inside, it was lovely, even better than my own handwriting. Looking closely at each wish i notice they each were in great detail.
'For twenty years, he's written down all these hopes and wishes for when his original master would return. He did his job in his place for that long, that's amazing. He may be stubborn and rude but he still does his best to keep the shrine at its best' i thought to myself as i flipped through the books and smiled at each one.
"We've realize we've asked you both to do a lot of work today, normally Tomoe keeps the shrine maintained as best as he can and as you can see we still get some people to come to the shrine."
My mind wonders back to the awful welcoming we got last night and how rude Nanami was which struck a cord in me and i turned towards her and smack her in the head using the book in my hand.
"Ow! Nēchan what was that for!?"
"Nanami, do you remember what you said last night to Tomoe? The chat about that has started now i want you to sit here and listen to me okay. What you said last night was uncalled for and awful, i hope you realize that even i wasn't happy about the welcome we got from Tomoe but he's done more for this shrine in the twenty year span then we have done today. How do you feel about hearing all of this information now after your outburst last night?" i asked as she sat across from me looking down at her hands like a child in trouble.
"You're right, i'm sorry.. I just.. I wasn't thinking at all when i said those words. He was being rude and hurtful to us that what i said came out and saw that it hurt him too. I'm sorry Nēchan ill watch what i say"
Sighing heavily i pat her on the head and smile at her, she may be a little too forward sometimes but that's what makes Nanami her. I pull out a slip of paper from my pocket and hand it to her and the last bit of my paycheck to her as well.
"Why don't you go out to the store and get these things for me for dinner tonight. Go on and get dressed and i'll see you when i get back home soon okay?"
Nanami smiled at me and gave me a hug.
"Of course Nēchan, where are you going?"
"I got a fox to talk to"
I turn my attention to Kotetsu and Onikiri, and smile at them. They must know where he so i can go and talk to him.
"Would you please take me to him, some of the things that were said yesterday weren't entirely true and i'd like to meet with him." i said as i stood up brushing off my knee's.
"Oh, unfortunately-"
"Master Tomoe is gone-
"To the world over yonder"
"What's the "World over Yonder?" anyways i'd really like to speak to him, please won't you take me to him?"
I ask once more, without hesitation they said yes, Nanami was a little scared to go so she was happy that i sent her out shopping for food for tonight's dinner.
Kotetsu and Onikiri lead me towards a dark space in the shrine and seem to walk into the abyss that i could barely see in. as we walked through the darkness i felt the atmosphere around me change it was different than before. I was now in The World Over Yonder.
"Its so different here, so this is what its like"
Kotetsu explained a bit of how it all works to get to World over Yonder as he lead the way with a lantern in his hands, dark places such as well's and even dark areas in grass fields serves as entrance's. Which only humans get lost in when they look too close in the dark.
Not far from where we're walking i saw a tori gate being illuminated by light behind it and as we walked closer i saw buildings with red lanterns light outside each one in row's, fabric signs for 'Sake' and 'Food' were hung outside of some of the buildings others had a sign for 'Yūkaku' which made my face a little red.
"Great, i'm in the redlight district of over yonder. Please let's find that fox and get home soon" i said with a bit of embarrassment as we walked down the path a little more till Onikiri felt Tomoe's presence.
"Master Tomoe!"
"Where are you Master Tomoe?"
They called and shouted as they ran into a building i was hoping i didn't have step foot in, swallowing the uneasy feeling i had walking into a Yūkaku following the will o wisp they stop at a parting as they heard a voice reply back to their calls.
"Be quiet, you're making a scene"
'Please be decent enough and still have clothes on' i thought to myself as i walked down the hall and stood outside the door hidden from view as Kotetsu and Onikiri open the door.
"Master Tomoe?"
"Are you in here?"
I could faintly see through the shōji door's he was sitting on the floor with two geisha's with him. One was sitting beside him, still fully dressed and holding onto his arm and leaning her head against his shoulder looking thrilled but a bit surprised by the will o wisps standing in the doorway.
The other one was pouring what appears to be hot sake also dressed and she didn't even seem fazed that two small spirits had bursted in on them.
Tomoe, he was sitting with a sakazuki in his hands as the sake is being poured, his simple white yukata lazily open at his chest showing a little of his tone torso. I flush a little and shake my head. He had his second layer plum purple yukata hanging off his shoulders and down on the floor.
'This isn't what i was expecting but thankfully they're all still dressed' i thought to myself as i stood outside the door. I didn't want to talk to him while in his current state. I don't know if i'd be able to stay focus.
"You wanted something?" he ask but can obviously tell he was not happy about the interruption.
"Master Toemoe!"
'Oh boy' i thought as the little spirits run in towards Tomoe
"How deplorable! You are a familiar in service to a god!"
"Here you are drinking in the middle of they day hold up in the red light district!"
"Leave me alone"
Onikiri and Kotetsu grab a hold of his arms to drag him out of the room but he sat there shaking his arms up and down to shake them off and still drink's his sake. The two geishas look very displeased by their actions.
"Master Tomoe you must change immediately!"
"And you harlots! Remove yourselves at once!"
'Looks like Nanami isn't the only one with bad choice of words' i thought as i face palm.
"What!"
Both geisha's are now mad and had grabbed both Onikiri and Kotetsu and started to stomp on them.
"Such impertinent will o wisps children!"
"You two should leave!"
"Indeed you should" he spoke without a care in the world
"But you have to come back to the shrine with us!"
"Lady Nadeshiko and Nanami need you to be one of their familiar!"
"Do you not care if the shrine goes to ruin?"
"No, i do not care in the slightest"
Those words stung, that was a place he had called home, that Mikage had called home, Kotetsu and Onikiri called home. Now that Nanami and myself are there he doesn't care anymore.. That disgraceful fox!
"Good riddance if you ask me, i don't have to be a familiar at all. What a tedious job that was. From this day forward i shall idle away each day of my life as i please." he said as he laid down on some pillows with his back turned towards the door and having more sake pour in his cup.
"Master Tomoe!"
"We're here for Lady Nadeshiko"
"She stated she wishes to see you again"
I step out from hiding to be seen and stare at tomoe, i was filled with utter disgust as i looked at him. My hand had balled up in a fist as i stare at him with such a sour expression.
"So she has come over with us"
I saw the jolt in his body as he sat up and spilled his sake he was sipping on and stare at me with anger but a surprised look on his face.
"What!"
"I do regret coming though, you're disgusting and i don't understand how you can just abandon that shrine like it was nothing just because me and my little sister are now making it our home as well. You're so selfish you stupid fox! Goodbye!" i said as i turned sharply from the door and walked down the hall.
I was out the door and walking the way i remember we came from, I couldn't believe that fox! He's throwing a tantrum all because we're now the new god's of the shrine instead of Mikage who gave us a place we can call home. Tomoe is heartless!
I bumped into something soft and fell back on my but, i rubbed my back as i had landed on it hard and looked at what i bumped into and saw three monsters. A cyclops, a racoon mix chicken and a demon with big ears and a jewel in the middle of his forehead.
"Hey there missy"
"We heard about you, you're the new Flora god at the Mikage shrine, there also is a new Land god as well but i don't see them at all.
"I heard Mikage quit being a land god and Flora god and found a replacement but i had no idea that you'd be so-"
"Tasty looking"
I could handle other people my age or a little older in a fight but monster is a whole different thing. I screamed as the three of them lunge towards me.
"I cant resist!"
"Im gonna gobble you up starting with your head!"
I screamed and put my arms up in defence but when nothing came i looked and saw that the three of them were fighting each other off to get the first bite at me.
"Lady Nadeshiko!"
The will o wisp children ran towards me and slowly lifted me up as they ran and carried me away as fast as they could.
"Where do you think you're going!?"
Was all i heard as we got farther and farther in the dark forest.
once we felt we were far enough from the red light district we all fell to the ground and took a deep breathe. I couldn't believe that i was almost eaten by those three monsters.
"We should be safe since we are this far"
"We hope"
"Lady Nadeshiko please go back to master Tomoe!"
"Why should I? He's made it very clear he doesn't want to come back"
"You must make master Tomoe your familiar at all cost"
"Wrong, Nanami and I will be fine, we're going back to the shrine now" i state as i stood up and start walking off in the dark forest.
"Lady Nadeshiko!-"
"If you seal the contract with master Tomoe-"
"He'll have no choice but to obey your every command"
I sigh and stop in my tracks and turn towards them and got to eye level with the two children,
"What do you mean by that and how does it work?" I ask
"It is one of the powers as a land god and Floral god posses, he has to listen to your command and obey every word of it."
"It does sound good especially to get him to help us out with the shrine, even when he's being rude. What do i have to do to seal the contract with him then?"
"It's quite simple my lady"
"You must take him-"
"And kiss him right on the mouth"
I blinked once, twice, three times. I stood up and kept walking and hide behind a tree as they continue to chat about how he'd be my familiar forever.
'I think Nanami and I will be just fine without that fox!' i thought to myself as i felt my heart leap a bit but my stomach turn at the thought of how the sealing on contract works.
I started to take off running in the dark forest.
"I'm going back home to Nanami and as fast as i can go!" i yelled till a voice broke through my own and i stop to see a elderly woman on the ground and looks to be carrying a heavy item on her back.
"Excuse me miss? Would you mind helping out an old lady?" I sigh and look around before i heard my name being called and decided to help her and get home as fast as i can be for the will o wisp children tell me something even more ridiculous.
I helped her up and started to carry her on my back and started jogging through the forest, so thankful i wore my tennis shoes for this strange trip in the world over Yonder forest.
"I trip back there and just couldn't get up!" the elderly lady said softly
"Sure thing, where do you live mam? "
"Lady Nadeshiko!"
"Lady Nadeshiko where are you?"
I heard my name being called over and over again as i carried the woman trying to find her home.
"Um ma'm is this the way to your home?"
I heard her laugh before i realize that was going on
"Yes, its right here!" i turned my head and saw she became a monster hag with a knife held above her head ready to strike down on me. I screamed as i dropped her and felt the knife slice through my top shirt leaving a very deep plunge v cut in front showing my black cami underneath.
"Lady Nadeshiko!" the will o wisp children had kicked the hag off my back who was thrown a few yards ahead of me.
"Lady Nadeshiko!"
"Are you hurt?"
"No just-Ahh!" i yelled as i picked up the kids and started running the opposite direction since the hag witch had gotten to her feet and started running towards me.
"Get back here! If i eat the heart of the floral god i'll live and become beautiful for another thousand years!" she shouts as i keep running.
I felt a weird spider web come over us but only Kotetsu was being dragged away.
"Kotetsu!" i yelled but Onikiri said he'd be fine and to just keep running.
"Lady Nadeshiko! Kotetsu has ran off to get master Tomoe! When he comes seal the contract to make him your familiar!"
"No way! Absolutely not!" i yelled as i kept running seeing the hag running and catching up slowly.
"Lady Nadeshiko please use these!"
"What are they!?"
"They're white talismans! They're magical paper write on them and attach them to the thing you wish to transform or change!"
"That's great!" i grabbed them as i ran and did the best i could to write decently and attached a strip of paper to Onikiris mask with the words of
'Giant god warrior'
"Become a god soldier!"
But nothing happened.
"Um, Lady Nadeshiko, the power of the talismans can not surpass the power of your own ability"
"Why didn't you say that first!" i was now down to two talismans and wrote down on one of them quickly before i felt webbing go over my head. I attached it to a log and ducked out of the way and kept running off in the dark.
"Crap i only have one left!"
i shout and as i said it i wrote down on the last paper and let it fly off and kept running with Onikiri beside me as we ran for our lives. Onikiri found a large tree and we started to climb up it. We got high enough out of reach before the hag spotted us before she started to climb the tree as well.
"Damn she's fast!" I felt her hand grab a hold of my ankle and pull on me to drag me down as i held tightly to a branch.
"You seem to be having a tough time there"
I look over at the branch i'm next to and see Tomoe and Kotetsu standing at the end looking at me.
'He really came'
"I heard you were in a tight spot so i rushed over immediately"
'He's not a bad guy after all'
It was short lived to think he was sweet.
"I wanted to watch the show" a smirk on his lips and holding a cup of sake.
"Jerk!" i yelled as i shook my foot as hard as i could before i brought it up and kicked down at her hitting her in the face, she fell to the ground below but caught a branch to make her way back up to me.
I pulled myself up on the branch a little and caught my breathe, Tomoe had scooted closer to me and was looking amused by his new found entertainment.
"You want some help Nadeshioko? Oh i imagine you must"
'Great now he's taunting me! That fox!' i grunt at him but he only continues to taunt me.
"If you cry "Please forgive this foolish girl oh great Tomoe' i might be inclined to give you some assistance" he said as he points his finger and long nails at my face.
'How dare he!'
"No, like hell if i'd ask you for help!" my hand slipped from its grasp and i fell one branch below where he sat. he look surprised that i slipped and caught myself or by the fact i refused to say such things for his help.
"Lady Nadeshiko!"
"Just say it! Please forgive"
"No way!"
"This foolish girl"
"No way!"
"Oh great Tomoe!"
"NO WAY!" I shout loudly that the tree nearly shook.
"You only have to say that one line"
"And master Tomoe will help you! Correct Master Tomoe?"
"Oh, yes, indeed so, just say that line and ill help you" he looked away from the will o wisp children and from me and held his fan up. He was lying, i felt my anger finally reach a boiling point with him.
"Just say the line Lady Nadeshiko!"
"No!"
"Lady Nadeshiko just say it!"
"No!"
"LADY NADESHIKO!"
"I WON'T SAY IT! I RATHER DIE THAN BOW TO HIM!"
I felt my anger give me a boost of energy, i pulled myself up and manage to grab ahold of his ankle. Yanking him down from his branch to me as we both started to fall from the great tall tree. We pass the hag and i felt something pull my braid out and my long hair flow up around me loosely.
"You stupid girl! All you had to say to live was one silly line! Now you're gonna die because of your foolish pride"
I swallowed hard as this was the only chance i had to survive, to get back home to Nanami. I didn't want to die and leave her alone, I wouldn't allow myself to do that to her.
I look up at Tomoe who's still falling with me, grabbing a hold of his kimono collar and pull him close to my face. I placed my hands on both of his cheeks and closed my eyes as i put my lips against his.
I felt his soft velvet lips become tense against mine but i knew that sealing the contract was the only way for me to get home safely and see Nanami again.
I broke apart and saw the shocked expression on his face.
"Alright Tomoe, Help me right now you Jerk!" i yelled as i started to fall faster than him. A blinding but binding golden light had appeared and wrapped around his wrist and the sound of something clicking had rang in my ears through the fall.
"Curse you!" i heard him yell as he dove faster after me and caught up to me. I felt his arms go around my back and under my knees, i wrap my arms around his neck and close my eyes hoping that i'm actually being saved and not going to die by the fall. I felt light as a feather and he held me tightly as we floated down softly to the ground.
I open my left eye and then my right and see we're on the ground safely and i see my face is really close to Tomoe's as he glares at me, i look away and drop my arms from his neck and he set me down softly and safely.
Of course i wasn't surprised when he looked very displeased by now being bound to me as my familiar. My hair was such a mess it sprawled out everywhere, i pulled out a spare hair tie i had in my pocket and pulled it into a ponytail for the time being.
"What the hell! Get away from my prey!" the hag yelled from up in the tree still.
Tomoe looked very angry and lifted his hand up and had fire consume his hand.
"Get down here, you putrid hag!" he threw the fire at her and struck and she fell to the ground and was bound by rope. Kotetsu and Onikiri ran over to me and hugged me. They both started to congratulate me with becoming a honest lady of the shrine and Goddess of the Floral.
I look over at Tomoe and he's kicking the hag and blaming her for becoming a familiar again. I sigh and stand up.
"Tomoe"
"What?!" he turned sharply towards me and glares at me. Ignoring it i spoke on.
"You came for me, thank you"
He continue to just stare at me but i went on.
"Let's go home, all of us" i said with a smile.
He didn't acknowledge what i said but seem to have started walking to lead us back home, Once we passed out from the world over Yonder i saw Nanami was just getting back from the store with groceries in her hands.
"Nēchan I'm back, Oh I see you brought back Tomoe. How was the trip"
"That's a story for another day Nami, let me get dinner started why don't you go take a bath okay?" i said with a big smile on my face and she handed off the grocery bags to me as i walked towards the kitchen. Kotetsu followed me and Onikiri took Nanami to the bath. Tomoe as irritated as he was followed me into the kitchen and seemed content by leaning against the door frame while i had started to prep dinner.
"You can either stand there and gripe about everything that happened or help me finish making dinner so we can all go to bed and put this day behind us" i saida s i was cutting the shiitake mushrooms.
A exasperated sigh slipped from his mouth and he soon was right next to me helping me finish the hot pot.
"I'll take over from here, why don't you go get yourself cleaned up as well and i'll have dinner ready when you're out" he took the knife from my hands, setting it down on the counter before gently pushing me out the door towards the bath house.
"But"
"Go get clean" he then shut the door on my face and i sighed and had Kotetsu lead me to the bath house. Where I proceed to join Nanami in getting cleaned up and ready for dinner.
