"Rin, Pyo, Tou, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen!" Kantarou quickly chanted and brought his prayer beads up to his lips as a burst of energy dazzled against his closed eyelids. The demon lunging towards his unprotected body screeched in frustration and agony as it dissolved on contact with the golden glow of the young exorcist's spiritual power. Kantarou opened his eyes and then suddenly sagged to his knees with exhaustion as the pain in his chest finally began to recede. His scar was sometimes useful in detecting ogres and demons, but in times like these it was more trouble than it was worth. This was the third major exorcism today, and he was getting to the point where using his powers was becoming difficult. He just hoped there weren't any more cases today-he didn't know how much more his body could take. It didn't help that his normal support, in the form of the (admittedly quite useful) ogre-eating tengu he called his own, was absent. After the second exorcism today, Haruka had decided to leave, claiming boredom.
"These are small jobs, Kantarou. You are more than adequate to handle these, and it's a waste of my time when I am not permitted to destroy them. It's more trouble to hold back enough not to kill opponents like these in one blow," the tengu had said, looking down his long elegant nose at the shorter man. "I am going home to take a nap." Haruka had spread his glossy black wings wide and took off towards home, giving a casual wave without looking back. Kantarou couldn't really blame him-it was all true. He had been handling cases like these long before he had unsealed his tengu. It really wasn't fair to Haruka to make him come along just for company, although he really would have enjoyed his company just to have it. After the agonizing uncertainty of not knowing whether he would return or not once he regained his memories as the ogre-eating tengu, Kantarou just liked feeling his presence nearby. It made him feel whole.
He sighed and slowly pushed himself up to his feet one knee at a time, his breath still coming in short gasps from the exertion. The dull throbbing that had been threatening most of the day had finally made itself felt behind his eyes, and it wouldn't go away if he kept pushing himself this way. Using up one's spiritual power took a lot out strength out of a body, even more so with powers as strong as Kantarou's. He wondered, not for the first time this day, if there was something behind all of the cases he had been running into. It worried him a little, but then he would be a poor strategist if he didn't see conspiracies in everything. He swayed a little on his feet, and his head began to feel as if it weighed more with every passing moment. It was time to head home-although at this point he really wished Haruka was around to give him a lift. He pushed open the door of the crumbling stone house the demon had taken refuge in, and then picked his way carefully through a seedy-looking garden as the sun began setting in earnest. It would be just his luck to trip and hurt himself on rubble after managing to stay relatively unscathed through multiple demonic assaults. He ran a hand through his sweat-dampened silver hair and smiled a little as a cooling breeze passed through the garden, relieving some of the unrelenting heat the day had produced. At least he was putting money on the table this way, and more money meant actual food. Kantarou's eyes closed in bliss as he thought longingly of expensive sushi and beef….real meat! Not needing further motivation, he managed to push himself through the rest of the garden and out into the street. A series of stone walls ran through these neighborhoods and extended through the one his house was in, so he had something to lean against as he dragged himself slowly towards home.
Unfortunately, a respite from work was not in the cards today. Haruka was enjoying the last glimmers of sunlight as they picked up sparkles on the light-warmed roof, and so he was the first to hear frantic footsteps hitting against the ground as they ran into the yard. He sat up and leaned over to make sure there were no immediate threats, and relaxed a little as he saw a frightened-looking servant knocking at their front door. It looked like another job for Kantarou based on the servant's behavior. Haruka smirked-at least they were going to be eating well for the next several days. It couldn't be bad for Kantarou to get used to working hard every once in a while now, could it? His master had honed his skills at getting out of work to perfection, so it gave Haruka a little satisfaction to see them fail. He rose to his feet while on the roof and stretched luxuriously, even to his wingtips before shaking them out and sending a few inky feathers floating on the breeze. He might as well speed up the process by picking up his master directly. Tensing his wings, he leaped off the roof and into the darkening sky, his black eyes perfectly able to see in the dark. It helped that Kantarou was so unique looking though- his silver hair and white and red hakama would show up in the dark like a spotlight to the tengu. Like fine metal caught by moonlight, Haruka found himself thinking. He liked things that shimmered best, so it was pleasing to him that his master came to him with those qualities. The man's persistent and demanding nature irritated him but endeared him more at the same time. Even with his memories returned, Kantarou's presence drew him more strongly than it repelled. They were both still waiting to see what outcome the pull between them held.
As luck would have it, Haruka spotted his master walking very slowly only a few streets away from their house. He frowned as he drew closer, noticing Kantarou was leaning against the wall heavily and his face seemed intent on where his feet were going. It was probably just his way of making a play for sympathy that would be underlined by his growling stomach-Haruka could easily imagine the pleading face the young exorcist would give him. It would be exactly like the man to practice his act in the street before applying it at home. Haruuuukaaa…..soo hungry! Carry me….he snorted and shook his head in feigned annoyance. In reality he had gotten so used to the way his master whined and acted like a small child over anything relating to food or youkai that he found he missed its absence when Kantarou wasn't home. The tengu quickly cupped his wings and dove to land with a flurry of dust next to Kantarou, who had stopped walking and now leaned his back against the wall, watching for him with one hand up to shield his eyes. It was always eerie to Haruka how Kantarou could sense his presence so easily.
"Hey Haruka….done napping already? Has Youko used my hard-earned money to cook something delicious and expensive for dinner?" the young exorcist asked hopefully. Haruka noticed that even with the expected question, Kantarou didn't really seem to be his usual aggravating self-normally such a question would have come with shouting, whining, or the other man clinging to Haruka's clothes (most often a combination of the three) while doing so. The exorcist's crimson eyes looked duller without his usual spark of mischief; and he didn't move beyond leaning his weight a little more heavily against the wall as he looked up at Haruka with a small smile. The ogre-eating tengu took a closer look at his young master, feeling a little concerned. Although Haruka was often annoyed with Kantarou, it just highlighted the strength of the feelings the silver-haired man stirred in him. He was determined not to let Kantarou get wind of his concern, though-he was manipulative enough to try to take advantage of any weakness Haruka showed. It suited the other man's gleefully obnoxious personality. Still….he was being a little too well-behaved. Haruka didn't take long to decide he preferred the normal Kantarou-the man was too resilient to feel down very often. He let out a long-suffering sigh and looked put upon as he glared at his master. Kantarou managed to look a little amused at hearing his tengu sigh like an overworked nanny.
"Hmmmm….I think I'll carry you back to the house. It will be quicker that way. It looks like you are going to have another job before you can eat though."
"Hai…thanks for the ride." Haruka tried unsuccessfully to suppress another little pang of worry at how meek the man was being. It was probably good for Kantarou to work hard enough to actually feel tired once in a while, he told himself again. "I'll come with you this time though…just because it will be faster if we fly." That's what he told himself, anyway. Not giving the smaller man a chance to say anything else, Haruka moved forwards and quickly grabbed Kantarou around the waist with both hands, and then leaped skywards. It was another measure of the other man's tiredness that he didn't squirm in Haruka's arms or use the opportunity to cling tightly onto him as he normally would.
Kantarou shivered slightly in Haruka's arms, the evening breeze rapidly chilling as they rose in the air. He wished, without much hope, that this last job was something that could be taken care of tomorrow. He was starting to get a bad feeling that had nothing to do with just physical exhaustion. Sometimes his spiritual energy gave him flashes of intuition that had kept him out of trouble (and just as often gotten him into it) before-he was getting that sort of feeling again the closer to home they drew. At least he was with Haruka now, though. The tengu's presence always made Kantarou feel stronger and more peaceful at the same time-he wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was having someone to protect, or perhaps it was a stronger feeling than that. Having the person he had devoted his life to finding staying by his side probably had something to with it. He didn't dwell on the why of it as long as he knew Haruka would stay with him. He didn't really deserve more than that anyway in this lifetime-not with his past. A single lifetime never seemed like enough to atone for the damage he had caused. He mentally shrugged and squashed the rising thoughts before any actual memories could surface, deciding that too much thinking couldn't possibly be good for a man's health. Instead he closed his eyes and relaxed in Haruka's arms as they flew towards home in the darkening sky. Although only a few minutes went by, he didn't feel Haruka pull him into his chest a little more tightly to keep his body warm.
All too soon (in Haruka's opinion, anyway), they landed in their small grassy courtyard and he had to gently shake his master awake before setting him down. Kantarou gave Haruka a gentle smile that made the tengu's legs feel weak, and patted him on the arm before making his way slowly into the house where their visitor was waiting. The servant was young and terrified looking, even sitting down at the table in their small reception room. Mousy brown hair and eyes didn't reveal much else to the world. The tea Youko had poured out for him sat untouched, cooling in front of him. After taking a quick glance into the reception room, Kantarou had hurriedly changed from his dirty hakama and had managed to snatch a minute to splash his head under cold water to revive himself a little. He came downstairs and then took a moment to study the young man, unnoticed from his position at the door before stepping all of the way into the room. Sliding the door shut, he formally bowed and then knelt at the table. As usual, Youko and Haruka sat with their backs pressed against the reception room's shogi screen door, unashamedly eavesdropping.
"I am Kantarou Ichinomiya. How may I help you? If you don't already know, I am an exorcist and priest, and also a folklorist. I can perform exorcisms and banish evil spirits and demons-if your problem is supernatural it is something I can try to help you with," his voice smooth as silk as he introduced himself in his most charming sales pitch voice. No matter how tired he felt, when it came to youkai Kantarou was always ready and willing to do something; a position both of his companions felt would get him into deep trouble someday. It was a position that had proved valid on several occasions already. Haruka and Youko sighed silently as they listened to the familiar wheedling tone Kantarou adopted with every potential client, although secretly Haruka felt a little relieved. Kantarou couldn't be feeling that badly if he was willing to take on another job that easily, right? Wait…if he thinks there is a youkai involved or a big bonus to be had he would agree to anything. The tengu resisted the urge to smack himself in the face for thinking anything different. A superior being should know better.
Back in the room, the servant finally spoke up, keeping his eyes on the table the entire time.
"M..my household requires someone with your talents, Mr. Ichinomiya. Our estate has always had rumors of being haunted by something…the usual sort that go with old homes…but lately strange things have been happening that are making my master and mistress terrified. The walls are marked with claws, things in locked rooms are destroyed savagely, and…lately…noises." The boy shivered, looking very young. "Whatever it is, it isn't human….and it has started attacking the family itself…just small things for now, but..they haven't left the house themselves since things started happening…and I don't know who else to ask for help..," the servant gulped visibly and looked up at Kantarou for the first time, beseeching. "Please help us! They need you, Mr. Ichinomiya. We are all scared that something bad is going to happen soon if these events get any worse. Whatever it is…is keeping the family from leaving the house to seek anyone. Please…please say you will come tonight. Please!" he cried, sounding close to tears. Kantarou looked at him soberly for a few minutes, his face looking much older than its normal childish appearance before nodding his head in acceptance. He smiled a little sadly and then stood up.
"Well, I will do whatever is in my power to help your household. First I will have to see for myself what has been happening-and the sooner the better. If you are ready, I am willing to go with you tonight." Despite his words, he felt his former feelings of uneasiness harden into a definitively bad feeling. Something was almost certainly going to happen if he went tonight. He was glad Haruka and Youko couldn't tell what he was thinking sometimes-they would probably refuse to let him go. It was part of Kantarou's own personal penance to atone for his past by helping humans and youkai whenever he was able…something else Haruka and Youko didn't know about his abnormal persistence when it came to cases like this. He smiled down at the boy and put a hand on his shoulder briefly. "I'm going to collect any materials I may need, and then we can go. I will do what I can to help, although I can't promise how things will work out." The boy looked up gratefully, and nodded.
"I'm sure you will be able to help a great deal, Mr. Ichinomiya. Thank you so much." No one saw the sudden smile twist the boy's lips into something hard and cruel and much older than his appearance. I can guarantee it, Kantarou Ichinomiya. An unseen watcher played his first move and waited to see his game unfold.