"Call now! Yato, god of fortune, at your service!"
This same sentence and a phone number where spray painted on every advertisement poster I'd seen since I got into the subway. I couldn't help but chuckle, seeing him reduced to this. Oh, how the might have fallen, I thought, closing my eyes.
"Raishi", I whispered at the green haired girl resting on my lap. She looked up and I noticed her amber eyes were still a bit bloodshot. After spending almost 48 hours without resting to make the trip here, it was perfectly understandable that she'd be tired.
"Hm?...", she mumbled, rubbing one of her eyes lazily. I could feel how tired she was but it wouldn't be long until we finally arrived. I smiled softly and lightly patted her head.
"We're almost there.", I smiled. "I'll wake you up when we arrive. Rest, dear.", she yawned and closed her eyes once again.
"Where are we even going, after all?", she asked, absentmindedly.
"I've told you this already, the humans have erected me a new shrine.", I partially scolded her. She was so forgetful of things like this.
"Oh... yeah, I remember... I heard there are a lot of shrines here..."
"Kofuku.. Tenjin... Bishamon..", I muttered, smiling. It's been a long time since last we met. -
"A storm... Raishi, Bakuhashi, let's go.", I jumped to the top of a building and they did the same. Up there, I could finally see the source of that darkness. "Oda! Naga!", I yelled and they turned into my swords. One, long and thin, with a black guard and golden details and the other one with a shorted blade and longer grip, which should be weilded with two hands, with crossed red leather and silver details.
I ran, brandishing both of them above my head and lunging at a dragon shaped phantom, slicing it in half. It exploded behind us, leaving no further trace of its existence.
"Raishi, Bakuhashi, nicely done. Let's go rest."
We got down on the streets once more, following the path to my new shrine. As we were walking, we passed an ice cream store and I felt them drooling over the displays on the window. I sighed, turning to look at their tired faces.
"Okay... let's eat ice cream first...", I couldn't hold my smile when I saw their eyes lighten up with joy before jumping at my neck and hugging me tightly.
"You're the best, Aurora!", they laughed, excitedly. I responede to the hug, my arms squeezing them and petting their hair.
"And you guys are a bunch of kiss-asses..", I smiled. Inside the store, I payed each one a cup of different flavoured ice cream and we sat for a few minutes. Since I wasn't very hungry, I didn't order anything for me and, when they were done, we carried on to the shrine.
-
It was nicely constructed. Not too big but certainly not small. Although it wasn't as rich as the ones I had in the countryside, it was still very welcoming.
"Go on, pick a room and settle it", I told those two, when we got there. "I'll call if I need you."
"See you tomorrow!", smiled Raishi, before disappearing inside on of the rooms. After a few minutes, I felt her relax; she'd fallen asleep.
"Goodnight.", whispered Bakuhashi, squeezing my hand before walking down the hallway as well. His dark hair was collected in a low ponytail that swayed with his slow steps. His calm green eyes greeted me when he looked back, signalling me to get some rest. He'd been my regalia for more than a thousand years and the memories we'd made together made me smile.
Another thought crossed my mind. It was Bakuhashi and... Nevermind... It's been a long time, I shouldn't bring back painfull memories like that one...Now, I could relax a bit, knowing that both my regalias were getting their much needed rest. It was the perfect time to stroll around town. Dusk had fully settled in and there were still a couple of hours left before darkness took over. They could sleep through them until it was completely dark. I was sure there'd be some sort of problem during the small hours.
I was dressed in a simple fashion, a flowy (f/c) dress, a pair of boots and a light jacket, since it wasn't very cold outside. People here were very different from the ones who lived near the mountain shrine it been living in for the last century or so. They were noisier and far more rude and careless when walking than those kind spirited farmers who prayed to me for good weather. Eh...,
"Tenjin...", I muttered, stopping at the entrance to his shrine.
"It has been far too long since I last saw you, Aurora.", he answered, appearing in the courtyard. He smiled tenderly, opening his arms to hug me. His regalias partially hid behind him, looking at me. I embraced him, happily. "What are you doing here?"
"The humans gave me a new shrine.", I answered. But I didn't want to talk about me, I wanted to know what was new. "I see you have many new regalias with you."
"That is true. How is yours?"
"They, are resting at the shrine. It was a very long trip."
"Come inside, let me offer you some tea.", he invited.
"Thank you for your hospitality, friend, but I still want to look around some more. It's been a while since I last came here."
"Have you met anyone else since you got here?"
"No." Why?", I inquired, due to his concerned expression.
"Be careful outside. You shouldn't even leave the shrine without your regalias!", he tried to scold me.
"Tenjin...", I smiled, stiffling a soft giggle with my palm. "I've been here longer than you, don't worry so much."
"She's older than master...?", I heard one of he regalias whisper to another.
"But she looks so young...", one of them remarked.
"I have no idea of who she is...", mutterd another.
"Ladies!", he scolded, with a stern face. "Don't embarass me like this", he blushed a bit. "Forgive their ignorance, Aurora,"
"No harm done. It's only natural that none of them know me.", I replied. "Only you, Tsuyu."
She smiled at me, turning to the other girls, who had lowered their heads, ashamed of having been reproached in front of a guest.
"This noble woman is the Weather Goddess, Aurora.", the others gasped at their own ignorance.
"We are so very sorry, miss!", they apologized. I didn't pay nothing to them, dismissing their embarassment with a genture of the hand. I had no patience for so many formalities.
"Tenjin, I'll be going now. It's lovely to see that you're doing well. It's a relief.", I smiled softly. With so many gods being forgotten during the past millenia, I'd lost many good friends.
"Thank you for your visit, Aurora. It was a pleasure to see you once again as well.", he stated. As I started walking away, he called me, my face turning to meet his concerned gaze. "Aurora."
"Hm? What's the matter?"
"Please watch yourself. Lady Bishamon and Yato have been fighting constantly these past weeks."
"Oh... you know how children are...", I laughed, shrugging and turning to face the path in front of me.
A couple of hours had passed and the city was now illuminated by the lamp posts scattered acrossed it. I'd been walking slowly, half in a daze, admiring all the lights and modern things the busy metropolis had to offer. Flashing signs and loud music caught my attention more than once and I was drawn to them like a naive moth. That was, until I actually saw the multitude of people that gathered around as well and, not being used to such crowds, I hung back and moved to quieter parts of the city.
A loud rumble pulled me out of my thoughts and into reality back again. I jumped over to the top of a small building, trying to see where it'd come from. A small field had smoke coming from it and a large group of ghosts seemed to be attacking something there.
"Oda!", I shouted, opening my hand above my head and waiting for Bakuhashi to respond to my call. I didn't want to call Naga, since Raishi was still exhausted and would only slow us down. I felt the long thin sword adjust to my palm and smiled. "Ready?"
"Always", he answered and I leaped from the rooftop where I was and landed on top of one of the ghosts, piercing it with the Oda. When it's body exploded, I attacked another, giving it the same fate. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something I thought I'd never seen again in my life.
"A... half-phantom?", I looked at the brunette girl and walked slowly towards her. She looked frightened, but she wasn't running away or even moving. The sword I was carrying dragged along the floor behind me, creating fiery sparks. Before I could get any closer, someone jumped in front of me, placing themselves between us.
A katana wrapped in white bandages shone before me, the fabric swaying in the night air gracefully. I looked up and saw those blue eyes.
"Yato...", I murmured.
"Hiyori, leave.", he told the girl.
"Why? What's wrong?", she asked.
"Yeah, Yato, why?", I inquired, my head cocked to one side. "I just wanted to chat."
"You're not going to chat with anyone here...", he spat. I stepped closer and he raised his sword, preparing himself to attack.
"Oh, how adorable...", I yawned. "It's not every day one sees a half phantom... the cord, cute as always, almost looks like a tail."
"What do you want? What are you doing here?", Yato asked. I got closer to him and swerved his sword to the side with my hand.
"I came to live here...", I spoke quietly. "And I was taking a walk and saw these phantoms and thought I should take care of things.", I stepped even closer and grabbed his scarf, pulling it to one side. I could finally look over his shoulder, to the scared girl who now only seemed angry. "And you are...?"
"I'm Hiyori, their friend! Let him go!"
"Friend, huh...? I thought you didn't have any friends, Yato..", I watched his jaw clench tighter and grinned.
"That was before..."
"And that katana? Lovely regalia, however you, not been very known to the population... I'm surprised you're even alive."
"Yato, who is she?", Hiyori asked.
"An old friend.", I smiled. Raishi had had enough time to rest by now. "Naga!", I waited for her to obey and as she nestled herself in my hand, I crossed swords with the black haired man.
"Hiyori, leave!", he yelled, chest heaving from the strain of battle. Our swords danced and spiraled through he air. I thrust Oda foward, hoping to catch his shoulder but he doged, however, I had Naga ready for this and his side was left open for me to attack. I simply made the blade kiss the fabric of his clothes, without cutting.
"Oh, Yato...", I grinned. "You're still terrible at these things. Hiyori, you can stay, I have no intention of hurting anyone today. Come on, mister, fight eargerly, else this isn't any fun!", when he realised I was just playing with him, his expression softened and Hiyori's as well. He smiled.
"Sekki, let's show her", he said, before lunging towards me. The katana's ligatures floated and danced in the wind. The metallic sound of our clashing swords echoed in the field and I repelled his attack easily with Oda. "Is that a new regalia?", he asked, looking curiously at my hands.
"Naga? Yeah.", I smiled looking at the long hilted sword. "She's a bit lazy but she's adorable."
"Hey! Stop badmouthing me in front of people I don't know!", she nagged me. I let out a soft chuckle.
"What?", Yato asked, deflecting Oda in the process.
"She's scolding me for talking about her.", I giggled, like an embarassed mother after her kids call her out.
"I finally found you, you monster!", I heard a familiar voice coming from behind me. All the color from Yato's face vanished and I knew who it was. I turned to face her.
"Bishamonten...", I murmured.
"You'll pay for what you did!", she yelled at the raven colored man, jumping in the air with a lion and a whip. I stood between them and, as she cracked the whip at Yato, I raised an arm, letting it be caught. The burn was only mild, nothing I hadn't experienced before. "Just what do you think you're doing?", she spat at me.
"Yeah, Aurora...", Yato whispered behind clenched teeth. "Do you have a deathwish or something?"
"Not at all.", I replied. I raised my voice so she could hear from the distance she was at. "I was having fun sparring with Yato, who gave you the right to interrupt us?"
"Right?! I am Bishamon, the goddess of war!", I released my arm from her whip and stared at her figure. The years had changed her; afterall, she was a grown woman now, unlike the child I'd known. She was still harsh and strict, just like when I was her master.
I walked towards her slowly, dragging both Oda and Naga behind me, creating sparks. Bakuhashi loved to do this since he loved everything related to fire; he had a blast. I stopped right in front of the lion.
"Bishamonten.", I said, looking her in the eye with a disdainful scowl. "Is that how you address you former master?", her eyes widened and she looked closely at me with a shocked expression and, when she finally believed in what I said, she jumped off the lion and bowed down.
"Aurora... I apologize."
"You haven't changed one bit.", I replied in a dry tone. "You're still arrogant."
"I beg your forgiveness, master.", she deepened her bow.
"HA HA HA HA, I can't believe this! Bishamon apologizing!", Yato yelled, laughing like a maniac. "I need to get a pic of this!", he took his phone to snap a photo of the scene but I slashed the device in hald with the Oda. Before the shock wore out, I grabbed him by the collar.
"Don't think I've forgotten who you are, Yato, god of calamity. The only reason why you're alive is because I've heard that you wish to become a god of fortune."
"M-my... phone...", he mumbled, looking disheartened at what was left of it.
"You'll get another one.", I released him and turned to the blonde goddess. "Come, introduce me to your regalias. It's good to know you have enough to help you be a good god."
"Thank you.", she nodded at my compliment. One by one, she called each regalia until she reached one called 'Kazuma'.
"Kazuma...", I breathed, feeling a weight on my chest. "Come here.", as he drew closer, I knew for sure it was him. I pulled him into a tight hug, nuzzling my face on his neck. "How are you?", I softly asked.
"I'm well. Veena treats me very and the other regalias very well. She's a very good master."
"I'm pleased to hear it.", I smiled. "Bakuhashi misses you a lot..."
"And I miss him too. But my home now is with lady Bishamon."
"I know, I'd never ask you to come back.", I replied. The Oda trembled in my hand, begging for me to call it's human form. "Bakuhashi", I softly said, turning him back.
"Soshiki...", he whispered, before attacking Kazuma with a hug. His lips trembled and he barely said anything comprehensible but the intention was there. Kazuma hugged him back, smiling at his old friend's display of emotion.
"Baku...", tears prickled down his cheeks as he spoke. I looked at Veena out the corner of my eye and saw her hold her breath. "I'm Kazuma now."
"Right...", the other nodded. "I'm sorry, I guess old habits die hard. How are you?"
"I'm good. You guys haven't changed a thing.", he smiled. After that, I called Raishi and introduced them.
"Bishamon", I whispered at her, whilst they were all chatting. She looked at me, uncertain of what would happen. "Thank you for giving him a home."
"Wait, Kazuma was one of your regalias?", Yato seemed shocked as he asked this.
"Yes, a long time ago.", I answered.
"Why did you let him go?", asked that girl... Hiyori. My eyes darted at Kazuma, since I understood that he might not want to talk about it.
"I blighted lady Aurora.", he answered. I saw suprise lit up everyone's face but I touched his shoulder before he could say anything more.
"Enough. The past has gone by, we need not revisit it.", he nodded. "Well, it was a nice chat but I was really in the middle of a night stroll.", I laughed.
"No one asked you to come here and kill phantoms...", Yato sulked. I turned to him and the girl.
"Indeed. Now, care to explain to me what happened to your friend?"
"We're in a bit of a hurry...", he stated, looking over my shoulder and sticking his tongue out at Bishamon. He started to drag Hiyori away as well. I grabbed his scarf and pulled it back, so he was slightly suffocating.
"Oh really... and where are you going then?"
"Doesn't mat-"
"Lady Kofuku's place.", answered Hiyori before he could stop her.
"HIYORI!", scolded Yato.
"What? She saved you from Bishamon, you could at least show some gratitude..."
"Come on, don't fight kids.", I laughed. "It's been so long since I last saw Kofuku... and Daikoku. Shall we?"
