The two uncles have both been given names and chapter one has been edited to reflect that. The older uncle is named Michio, meaning man with the strength of three thousand. The younger uncle is named Yukio, meaning he who gets what he wants. Originally I wasn't going to give them names as I initially anticipated their roles ending with chapter one. Sometimes stories write themselves. They remain minor characters in the grand scheme of things, but they're important enough to have names now.
Also, don't expect updates to come at such a rapid pace. As I said, sometimes stories write themselves.
Chapter 2: Yet Misfortune Remains
A new day had dawned in Gensokyo, though Momiji had yet to give her proper farewells to the previous one.
Sleep had not come to the white wolf the night before, regardless of how much effort she put into finding it. Just as blissful unconsciousness had been within arms reach, something from the clan meeting never failed to enter her mind. Too many things had happened in that meeting, all of which still weighed heavily on her mind.
Though her body now found itself out on her daily patrol, her heart simply was not in it.
Unable to find the energy to traverse her usual route, Momiji instead sat on a tree branch near the center of Tengu territory, leaning against the trunk for support. If she was going to be of any use at all to the corps, she'd have to rely on her senses more than ever this day. If anyone dared intrude, she'd be able to sense them if she concentrated enough. The white wolf just prayed no one actually dated. She doubted she'd find the strength to move from her spot for a while yet.
For the first time in her life, she had seriously contemplated skipping work that day. Yet, such a thing would be improper for an Inubashiri, let alone the current heiress to her clan.
'Heiress,' Momiji scoffed inwardly. She'd never truly thought about the meaning of the word. She supposed if something had ever happened to her father, the burden of leadership would have fallen on his chosen heir, her. Would the clan have flourished or dwindled under her guidance? Did she even have the capacity to lead?
'Not that it matters anymore,' the white wolf almost laughed at her own cynicism. The title she held was nothing more than a temporary formality at this point. If her uncles' plan succeeded and she found herself married off to their choice crow, she'd technically no longer be an Inubashiri, as disgusting of a thought as that was. It did not matter if her parents bore a son or a daughter for their third child. She would no longer have any right or claim to her current title.
Losing her position as heiress was all but assured.
Momiji shook her head weakly, but even that seemed to take much more effort than it should have. Her attention to her surroundings was abysmal, she had to admit. It was shameful, and not like her at all. Her lack of energy was not a worthy excuse for a proud Inubashiri. However, despite knowing it, she could do little to change that fact as her physical and mental exhaustion was proving to be a more formidable opponent than even she could handle.
She just hoped the other wolves on patrol today, especially her uncle Michio, were able to pick up her slack . She could trust Michio to show the smallest hint of leniency towards her, at least. He owed her that much, and she was certain he knew. Even still...
It pained her to feel so useless.
"Well, isn't this a rare sight," the all too familiar voice of irritation personified spoke.
This was just her luck. As if she needed more proof of her unprofessionalism, she hadn't even noticed Aya approaching her.
"I'd take a picture, but..." Momiji looked up in time to see Aya make an awkward face. "Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned pictures around you yet. Not after... yeah," she finished with an awkward mumble.
Gods, she was too tired for this, but she was under orders. She'd have to at least try to be cordial.
"Good morning, Aya," Momiji yawned. "Sorry, but I don't think I'll be able to entertain you, today. I'm... preoccupied."
"Hm..." Aya landed on a nearby branch, mirroring Momiji's relaxed posture. "Rough night? I was about to head over to the Scarlet Devil Mansion for some investigative reporting, but it looked like you were about to fall. Just wanted to check up on you. Are you alright?"
"Tired," the wolf tried to fight back another yawn. She wondered why Aya was sitting the way she was. Leaning against the tree like that, she was facing away from her. Considering the way Aya had always acted around the wolf, actively trying not to be in her face was a rather odd choice for the crow to make. "My clan had a meeting late last night. I don't have much skill in going without sleep, ya know?"
"Can't say that I do," Aya laughed as she folded her arms lazily behind her head.
She was getting comfortable, Momiji noted from the sounds of the wiggling Tengu. 'Just great...'
"All of us crows that have our own newspapers," she continued, "none of us really follow a set schedule. I sometimes run into Hatate in the middle of the night, then see her again the next day, as energetic as usual. She used to never leave her room, too. That one's come a long way."
"It must be nice," the white wolf grumbled. It was amazing how this crow could irritate her even when being perfectly civil. "Not having a set schedule, I mean. Still, I'm sure it's a necessity that you, in particular, don't. Running into Hatate likely throws off any theoretical schedule you'd have."
The rivalry between their two newspapers was well known to even her, though she imagined the rivalry was nothing more than a competition for second to last place. How either of the crows managed to snag even a single subscriber was beyond her.
"Hatate," Aya practically growled, which was an odd juxtaposition from the way she spoke her rival's name before. It seems steering the conversation in this direction had stirred up something. "You know, I didn't want to say anything since I'd hate to talk bad about someone when they're not here to defend themselves."
'Then what is your newspaper?' Momiji rolled her eyes, somewhat thankful that Aya was facing away from her. Was the crow truly so oblivious, or was it just an act? Either way, it was irritating.
"It's just that ever since I-" Aya stopped short, making it obvious to the patrolwoman that she was fidgeting. "Ever since that one time, she's been extra hostile towards me, and even some of the other reporters. It's getting ridiculous. Mention my Bunbunmaru newspaper once, and she'll just start accusing me of stupid things." Aya crossed her arms and huffed in defiance. "I research my articles well enough, I'll have you know."
"It sounds like you just pissed her off," Momiji snickered. In truth, she felt a bit grateful towards Hatate and her competitiveness. On many occasions, the rival crow had shown up while Aya had been pestering her and driven the reporter away with her nagging. It was annoying to listen to while they were both going at it, truth be told, but it was a small price to pay to be rid of Aya earlier than usual.
"Yeah," the crow in question sighed. "Yeah, I guess I did."
Of course, everything Momiji felt towards Aya was reliant upon the crow possessing an insatiable desire to pester and annoy the wolf. This Aya... Today's Aya was acting... normal. Perhaps even timid.
It was weird.
"You're weird," she echoed her own thoughts.
"I'll take that as a compliment," the reporter laughed. "It's a step up from the things you've called me in the past."
"Sorry," she apologized, though she was only doing so for half the things she'd called Aya before. The crow still deserved the other half, she reasoned. "You just really irk me sometimes, though I suppose I should be thankful that it's you who does it."
"You must really be tired. You're thanking me for making you mad all the time."
"That's not what I meant," the white haired heiress yawned, "but I really am tired, I'll give you that. No, what I mean is that as a crow, you have every right to report me for the things I've said to you. We wolves are supposed to be at the beck and call of you crows. For one to address a crow the way I do you... it's unheard of. In that sense, I'm both fortunate and misfortunate that it's always you doing the pestering."
"Momiji," Aya spoke in an oddly serious voice, and Momiji could sense that she had shifted to face her. "I'll always be here to irritate you."
Though she was still exhausted, Momiji still managed enough strength to bring her palm to her forehead. It didn't help that all she could hear was that irritating laugh the reporter had.
"But seriously," Aya managed to get out after calming her own laughter, "I wouldn't report you, or turn you in, or call the super secret Crow Tengu Enforcer Squad to come get you."
Momiji was sure that last one was made up.
"Without a doubt, that would pretty much ruin any chance I had with... at salvaging this."
It was an odd feeling, knowing exactly what the reporter was trying to hide. Momiji still was not quite sure how to handle the knowledge, though. On one hand, she still hoped that her uncles were wrong, but on the other, their theory seemed to fit given the context.
At the very least, Aya seemed to genuinely want to be friends with her again. If she'd been asked yesterday, she'd have denied any such possibility. Perhaps it was her lack of sleep clouding her judgment, but the white wolf was beginning to consider the prospect quite seriously. Of course, the notion was entirely dependent on Aya's new attitude not turning out to merely be a temporary shift. She'd have to hold out until certain on that one.
She wasn't about to commit to anything with that danger still in play, regardless of how much her family urged her to do so. As such, she had no desire to discover if her uncles' theory was true or false at the moment. That information could wait. That could wait for as long as possible, as far as Momiji was concerned.
"So, you said you were planning to 'visit' the Scarlet Devil Mansion?" Momiji asked, deciding it best to change the subject to something less dangerous.
"Putting it in nice terms, yes," the crow laughed again. Did she really have to laugh like that? "Earlier in Spring, I got wind of something of particular interest. Unfortunately," she sighed, "the pictures I had printed were confiscated when I tried to question one of the suspects."
"No," Momiji gasped sarcastically. "Why would anyone do such a thing?"
"I know, right?" Aya huffed indignantly. "It's amazing how many people try to get in the way of the Pure and Honest Aya Shameimaru's quest for truth. My readership has a right to know!"
Momiji just rolled her eyes. She was certain that Aya had picked up on her sarcasm, but was running with it regardless.
"What's worse, though, is that someone broke into my house and stole the film. I know exactly who did it, too. I have no proof, mind you, but from my own investigation," she began to boast proudly, "I can only conclude that the break in job was elegantly executed."
That must have meant something to Aya, but Momiji wasn't quite sure who she was referring to. Being somewhat clueless about the other denizens of Gensokyo was the price she had to pay for spending nearly her entire life within Tengu territory. She'd only ever visited he Hakurei shrine on a handful of occasions, after all. The Inubashiri life didn't require much from outside their territory. No, Tengu territory was all that they required.
"So why are you going back?" She questioned. The quest honestly sounded like more trouble than it was worth.
"There's been rumors of a new development." The white wolf could practically feel the crow's glee. "From what I've heard, I might get a chance to snap some even juicier photos than before."
"It's a miracle," Momiji yawned loudly, "that you're able to contain yourself sitting here with me without falling."
"I could say something similar about you," Aya observed, though her voice now lacked her previous jovial tone. "Are you okay? I was kidding before when I said you looked like you were about to fall out of the tree, but I think you're genuinely tired enough for it to happen."
"I'm tired."
"So you've said," the reporter was quick to interrupt. Momiji could feel Aya's eyes on her. "I honestly don't think you should be out here. Why don't I take you back to my house... or back to yours. Yours is better, I guess. You just need to get some sleep."
"I can't," though the white wolf's yawning was making her sound less and less convincing. "I'm on duty."
"This is duty?"
"No," she sighed, "but I can't leave my post. My family... I just can't do that."
"Hm..." Aya mused, making no effort to hide the fact that she was staring the wolf down, now. "You need a nap."
"You're repeating yourself."
"No, I mean take one."
Momiji managed to look over at the crow with a raised eyebrow, but was taken aback by the serious look in her eyes. It was eerie.
"I mean it."
"I don't doubt you," Momiji looked away, leaning back into the tree. "This ridiculousness is par for the course when concerning you."
"You can take one right here," Aya explained. "You can't leave your post, but you wouldn't be if you're still here."
"Sleeping on the job is equally out of the question."
"I demand it."
Momiji glanced at the crow again, this time quizzically.
"I'm a crow, and you're a wolf. You're at my beck and call. Take a nap."
"You aren't really telling me to do that," Momiji dismissed. "You hate all that crow and wolf hierarchy nonsense, remember."
"No one else knows that, though," the reporter smirked mischievously. "I'll stay with you. It would probably do me good to rest up before I inva... uh... investigate the Scarlet Devil Mansion, anyway. Trust me, if anyone shows up, I'll explain that the big bad crow ordered the innocent little wolf to take a nap so she could appease her perverted whims of watching the wolf's sleeping face."
"But you are a pervert," Momiji chuckled, "and you probably do want to see my sleeping face."
"I do," Aya didn't even hesitate, "but that's not why I'm doing this. Take a nap. You need it. You can go back to your patrol when you wake up. It's better than just sitting here like a dead lump."
The white wolf, the proud and honorable heiress of the Inubashiri name shook her head and sighed. "I must be more tired that even I'm aware of. I'm actually considering this."
"You should be. I wouldn't offer to postpone my investigation for just anyone's sake, you know."
The crow had a point...
"Alright. You win." Momiji snuggled as best as she could into the trunk of the tree and closed her eyes. "Despite me clearly being insane for deciding to trust you, see that you don't betray that trust this time."
"I won't," Aya spoke with deadly seriousness. "Not this time."
Momiji barely had the chance to ponder Aya's tone. The act of conversing with the crow had been the key to winning her battle with exhaustion. Now that her advantage had been eliminated, she was rapidly finding herself on the losing side. It was not long after her senses came back into focus and the smell of the tree coupled with the sound of the swaying leaves overwhelmed her that she raised the white flag.
Within mere moments, she was out.
⑨
Momiji awoke to the sound of something both rhythmic and almost soothing. It sounded similar to the noise a heavy cloth made when the wind rushed through it, though that notion seemed highly unlikely. The white wolf felt no such wind on her skin, nor did the leaves still sway as they did before she succumbed to sleep. Thus, the noise was deemed unnatural, and no matter how she wish she could ignore it and return to the blissfulness of sleep, she could not.
She'd indulged Aya's whims and rested for long enough. She had work to do, now.
It took her a few moments to fight off the last remnants of sleep and garner enough willpower to force her eyes open, but she was met with a rather peculiar sight when she finally managed to achieve her task. Floating just beyond the branch she had chosen as her makeshift bed, a green haired woman twirled in the air dressed in a heavy red dress with matching ribbons around her arms and throughout her hair.
This one was new. She'd seen this intruder at the foot of the mountain mainly, and she suspected that was where the girl took up residence. Momiji earnestly couldn't recall if this particular youkai had ever been reported as attempting to invade Tengu territory. Nevertheless, she was here now, but was she alone?
The white wolf glanced curiously to her side, but found no trace of the one she had expected. "Aya?" She called out worriedly. Had something happened to her?
"Your friend was gracious enough to leave you in my care," the youkai spoke, not bothering to halt her rotation.
Oh great. She'd been abandoned. Momiji sighed and shook her head in disappointment. Even Aya knew better than this.
"Though I must admit, it took an ample amount of persuasion on my part to convince her to leave. She seemed oddly protective of you."
So, Aya had to be convinced. That was at least a little more forgivable. Aya knew who was and was not allowed in their lands, so there must be a reason behind this youkai's presence. The girl didn't seem like a threat, at least for the moment. She'd question her a bit to buy herself time to fully wake up. She could deal with the intruder properly when the time came.
"So, you've just been looming over me... spinning... the entire time?" Now that she'd said it out loud, she realized just how creepy the situation was. She needed to hurry and regain her strength soon.
"It hasn't been that long," the youkai explained. "I'm not spinning very fast, so if I judge by how many time's I've spun, I'd say it's only been a little more than an hour since your friend left."
An hour, huh. Momiji squinted through the branches overhead attempting to spot the position of the sun. It had still been fairly early in the morning when Aya had appeared, and she didn't imagine their conversation had lasted too long. Now, the sun was at least a few hours past its peak. Had she really slept so much of the day away?
'Wait,' the white wolf's eyes widened slightly in shock. This youkai claimed to have only been present for little over an hour. That meant...
'Did Aya really stay with me for most of the day?'
"Though, that's just a rough estimate," the green haired girl continued. "I was interrupted shortly after your friend left by a very grumbly man."
'Fantastic,' Momiji grumbled inwardly. 'Let's alert the whole corps that I've been sleeping on the job. Let's file a formal report to the Council of Elder Wolves while we're at it!'
"That man was even more troublesome to deal with than your friend," the youkai huffed. "he demanded that I stop spinning!"
Why was she spinning?
"I had to explain to him on numerous occasions that I was spinning for your benefit and not for fun. He just wouldn't leave me alone until I told him exactly why I was here."
Her benefit? "Why... are you here, exactly?"
"Before that," the girl awkwardly pointed to a small pouch hanging from a smaller branch to the right of the wolf, all the while still spinning. "That grumbly man brought that for you. From what I can gather, you've slept through lunch and that man forced me to promise that I'd make sure you ate something."
The patrolwoman reached over to the pouch the youkai had pointed out and reached in to reveal a pair of rice balls. Now that she thought about it, she had missed lunch and she felt rather hungry all of a sudden. Perhaps she'd indulge herself. Besides, Momiji was beginning to get a grasp on who this "grumbly man" was, which was why she felt safe enough to eat something an intruder had pointed out to her. Regardless, there was really no need to fear. She'd be able to sniff out any tampering with her keen nose due to her training.
As for the matter of the sender of the cuisine she could now enjoy, her uncle Michio fit the bill of the "grumbly man" quite well, and he was the only other Inubashiri on patrol today. In addition, the pouch boasted the maple leaf crest of her family, so there was little suspicion if her theory was true or not.
Yet something still bothered her. Her uncle was a proud member of the Tengu Patrol Corps, and this youkai was clearly an intruder. It was his duty to drive out these very kinds of intruders, yet he had made a special exception for this one. Her previous question she had voiced was still relevant.
"Very well. I'll eat." She took a bite out of the rice ball to prove the point to the green haired girl. "However, I'll need an explanation from you while I do so. My apologies in advance if explaining the same thing a third time is not to your taste."
"It's not a problem," The youkai smiled broadly. "I came here because of you, after all. It's only natural that you be informed of my intentions."
"Could you... stop spinning, please?" Trying to eat while watching the twirling youkai was making her nauseous.
"Everyone keeps asking me that," the green haired girl huffed. "I'm doing it for your benefit. I'm trying to determine just how much misfortune you've collected."
"Misfortune?" Come to think of it, she'd head of some sort of god in Gensokyo that dealt with such a thing.
"My apologies," the girl curtsied as she spun. "My name is Hina Kagiyama, and I am... well, I suppose I'm a curse goddess."
'A goddess?' Momiji raised an eyebrow quizzically as she looked over the girl in question.
Was she supposed to bow? The two goddesses living at the peak of the mountain demanded things of that nature when they first appeared, though this girl didn't seem as pushy. No, this one seemed rather normal... as far as people who spun constantly were concerned, that was. She supposed it would be alright to continue acting like she had been around this goddess, and at the moment, that entailed being rather indignant.
"Sorry," Momiji rolled her eyes, "but I don't think I need any curses at the moment. Given the past twenty-four hours, I feel like I've hit my quota for a lifetime."
"Quite right," the goddess nodded, much to the white wolf's surprise. "Just yesterday, I only sensed a nominal amount of misfortune coming from this side of the mountain. That amount has drastically increased overnight." Suddenly, Hina stopped spinning, her hair and dress following suit a few seconds after. The goddess now looked Momiji straight in the eye. "Every bit of that increase is emanating from you right now."
That seemed... well, that seemed likely.
"I guess you could say I had a bad night," the patrolwoman tried to make light of it. It was starting to sink in that this girl really did have powers involving misfortune as she claimed to. The fact that her duties as a deity involved her was somewhat unnerving.
"It seems much more than that," the green haired girl said as she began spinning again. "Though I understand if you feel the need to keep the specific details from me. I only deal with misfortune, not necessarily the reasons for its existence."
"And how exactly do you 'deal' with misfortune?"
"I absorb it," the goddess said plainly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "As a curse goddess, it's my job to absorb the misfortune of humans and redistribute what I collect to the other gods and goddesses. You see, humans naturally generate more misfortune than they can deal with. If left unchecked, they can be driven to do something drastic to rid themselves of their burden... permanently."
Oh...
"We deities, however, are much better suited to handle greater amounts of misfortune than we generate naturally. You see, it's my job to transfer from those who cannot tolerate it to those that can."
Had this goddess explained all this to Aya and her uncle? Was she here to alleviate her of her own misfortune? Was that why she was being given special privilege to move about their lands as she pleased? That was... somewhat sweet of them, though absolutely unprofessional in Michio's case.
Wait...
"Human," Momiji repeated the word, noting the distinction in the goddess's explanation. "I'm not exactly human, Miss Kagiyama."
"Yes," Hina stopped spinning to look at the wolf again. "That's why I'm spinning." As such, she continued doing so. "I'm meant to serve humans, not youkai. This is... difficult."
"How so?"
"Humans are simple creatures. It's inherently easy to manipulate them if a god so desired. Though, most gods that deal with humans directly are after their faith. Faith derived from manipulation is meaningless, so it's very rare that such a thing happens."
Momiji had wondered why the two goddesses of the Moriya shrine hadn't simply forced the Tengu to believe in them if they were so powerful. Apparently it would have amounted to a hollow victory for them if they had tried.
"Youkai, however," the green haired girl continued, "are far more complex than humans. Regardless of any aesthetic similarities we may have with them, our inner, spiritual workings are completely different." She stopped spinning again. "Truth be told, I don't have much experience working with other youkai. I'm proficient at my job when it comes to humans, but I'm not sure how beneficial this attempt will be for you."
"Forgive me," Momiji offered a skeptical apology, "but it sounds like I'd be better off if we set this aside for now."
"Nonsense," Hina gasped, stopping her rotation once more. "It's not like I can make things worse for you by trying. It is not within my bonds to give misfortune to anyone other than a god or goddess. I would only be able to take it from you. Now," she sighed in exasperation as she began to spin again, "please cease from drawing such reaction from me. I can't concentrate if I'm not spinning."
"You're not going to give me a choice in this, are you?"
"Nope," the goddess smiled, though Momiji sensed a fierce determination behind that expression.
'Well,' the white wolf mused, 'I suppose it couldn't hurt. Disregarding Aya's intentions, uncle Michio had agreed to it, at least...' Though, such a statement wasn't as encouraging considered what her uncle had convinced her father to go along with the night before. Still... if it made things even a little better, wouldn't it prove a worthwhile endeavor?
"So, should I get up, or-"
"No," Hina was quick to interrupt. "You are fine where you are. It's better if you're comfortable and perfectly still. Now that I have your consent, I'd prefer it if you fell back asleep, but I doubt I could convince you to do so if you have any relation to that grumbly man at all."
"No, you couldn't," Momiji almost laughed, "and I do."
"In that case," she spoke as some sort of aura began to encompass the goddess, "do try to be still. I think I've managed to locate a portion of your misfortune that I can remove." Her rotations began to grow faster and faster until she was nothing but a blur of red and green to even Momiji's eyes. "This should only take a moment!"
"This is going to hurt, isn't it?" She suddenly wished she hadn't agreed to this after all.
"It shouldn't," the goddess yelled back over the sounds of her spinning. "At least it doesn't for humans..." She had whispered that last part.
"What?" Momiji desperately hoped he had heard wrong.
"Nothing! Just hold still!"
Suddenly, a powerful sensation overwhelmed her as the aura Hina was emitting seemed to be sucking a similar glow out from within the wolf's very being. Momiji clenched her eyes shut and gripped the branch of the tree roughly. The sensation overpowering her senses was neither pain nor pleasure, but it was not welcome all the same. The only word she could use to describe it was "weird."
It was as if she were experiencing her clan meeting all over again, but this time in reverse. Her mood was shifting rapidly from confusion to anger, from irritation to exhaustion, and from curiosity to pride. It was unbearable. She couldn't possibly take another moment of-
"Done!"
Huh?
"Look at this," the goddess was practically bubbling.
Momiji cautiously opened one eye before letting out a relieved sigh and opening her eyes fully. The goddess in red bore a toothy grin as she held a large glowing orb in her hands.
"That's misfortune?"
"Sort of," Hina paused briefly. "Curses and Misfortune aren't tangible. They exist, but you can't naturally see or touch them. To collect and handle misfortune like this, I have to coat it with a portion of my power. It also helps to contain it, otherwise it would just go back into you after I pulled it out."
"Weird," Momiji looked at her hands introspectively. "I feel... refreshed."
"A nap and a good meal will do that," Hina grinned. "If you're looking for some physical signs that this has worked, I'm going to have to disappoint you. Your experiences and actions dictate how you physically feel. Misfortune only alters what experiences you stumble upon."
"So, that's it?" The wolf asked hopefully. "That's all of it?" Oh gods, she hoped that was all of it. She didn't want to experience that again.
"Oh, not even close," the goddess laughed, managing only to catch herself a few seconds too late. "Sorry, but you're better off not knowing exactly how much misfortune you've gathered. I managed to get from you a little more than I get from a human who's really bad off. The fact that you still have more is troubling, but you're a youkai, so you should be able to handle it."
"Great. This was pointless," Momiji grumbled as she pulled herself up to her feet. If she was going to be disappointed, she'd rather do so on her feet. Now that the goddess's business was completed, it was Momiji's turn to do her job.
"Not pointless," Hina protested. "Things may not turn out as they should, but they will be closer to it than before. Besides, now that you are aware of your misfortune, you can better stand against it. Misfortune can only grow if you allow it to control your emotions."
"So, what would you suggest."
Suddenly, the goddess clutched Momiji's shoulders tightly, staring at her in all seriousness. "No matter what happens, try to make the best of it. Things might not work out the way you want, but if you find a way to enjoy yourself, you can turn misfortune into fortune."
"That's," the heiress brushed her hands aside, "awfully positive for a curse goddess."
"My motivational speeches need work, don't they?"
"It doesn't matter," the wolf shrugged. "All that matters is that you listen to what I have to say, now."
"What's that?"
She mirrored the goddess's earlier seriousness.
"Leave."
"...You're not a very appreciative youkai, are you?"
"Sorry," Momiji chucked. Perhaps this goddess had done something after all. Today had been a fairly good day so far, and she had quite enjoyed the goddess's reaction just then. She felt oddly happy. "It's just my job. You met my uncle before. His job is the same. We are to drive out all intruders who dare enter Tengu lands. As of right now, you're an uninvited guest, and my job is to address that."
"Drive out..." The green haired girl fidgeted in the air. "Um... you left your sword... at the base of the tree, and... I can spin away pretty fast, so-"
"Don't worry," Momiji waved off. "I just meant that I'll have to escort you off of the premises. You've already proven that you mean the Tengu no harm, but the rules are still in place. Besides, I need to make sure none of the other wolves try to attack you on your way out."
"Oh, that won't be a problem. I came here just fine."
That... actually was a problem. "How exactly did you manage that?"
"Simple," she grinned as she held up the glowing orb with pride. "Everyone has at least a small bit of misfortune in them, and as a curse goddess, I can sense it. It was rather simple to evade the other sources of misfortune until I reached you. They were of no concern to me at all."
Yeah, that was a problem. She was another one that needed to be reported on when her shift ended. It was a good thing, too. She was worried that her nap was going to have her finish her shift empty handed.
"Even still, it's my job to see you out." Not waiting for a reply, Momiji leaped from the tree landing on the soft ground below. She turned to look up at the goddess with an outstretched hand. "Shall we go?"
Hina sighed in defeat, relinquishing herself to the fact that having infiltrated Tengu territory would prove to have been a much simpler matter than getting out.
"If you insist."
⑨
Momiji silently leaped from tree to tree, sniffing the air as she flew. There was something unnatural about the scent of this side of the mountain, but she just couldn't determine what. She could clearly sense the usual fragrance of the trees and wildlife, but there was something else there. It was something behind everything else, almost if it were an object just out of reach.
The white wolf cringed, covering her eyes to shield them from the setting sun as it breached the overhead treeline. She was going to miss out on her routine again, but that was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment. She needed to make up for lost time. Her nap was behind her, now, and she now felt the urge to do what she was meant to.
She needed to hunt.
Something out of the corner of her eye drew her attention, yet nothing but the wind remained when she turned to look. It was almost as if whatever was there had been invisible to begin with, but...
Momiji chuckled to herself as the pieces finally fell into place in her mind. Instantly, she jumped from her perch and began to give chase to the phantom vision. This was going to be fun.
Once she had realized that the scent and the vision were connected, it was a simple task to funnel her determination into homing in on the unnatural scent. It didn't matter if she couldn't see the source at the moment. As long as she could track the scent, she could chase it.
'The longer this goes on,' Momiji thought to herself with a smirk, 'the more likely you are to make a mistake. You always do in the end.'
This particular intruder was a special case. In many instances, there was no need for her to even intrude onto Tengu lands. She was invited more times than not by the crows. Always by the crows, though... always when they needed something fixed.
The white wolf sprinted around a tree, earning an audible gasp from the seemingly nothingness in the clearing beyond. Momiji allowed a fanged grin to spread across her lips as her eyes darted around the clearing. She was here. The intruder had stopped running, likely hoping that Momiji would pass over her. However, this particular intruder was easily frightened, so all the patrolwoman had to do was show herself to force the invisible girl to reveal herself.
Now that she had the intruder cornered, all she had to do catch her.
This was honestly Momiji's favorite part of their little game. Though it now resembled a child's game of hide and seek, the rules had been altered over time. Each time she found herself in this situation, she had to admit the intruder always found a new way to negate her advanced white wolf senses, making her all the more difficult to catch.
She loved the challenge, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
Momiji began taking slow, calculated steps into the clearing, concentrating to see if she could pick up and sounds or smells that would help her pinpoint the intruder's exact position. Her eyes would be useless for this hunt. Their game had already advanced well beyond that stage, and from the smell of things, the intruder had been working on a way of advancing their game past smell as well.
It was fortunate for Momiji, then, that whatever the intruder was using to mask her scent was still in development. Though Momiji could no longer smell the intruder's usual scent, there was still a scent there. It was like smelling nothing at all, but that was the scent's major failure.
Nothingness was an unnatural scent to Momiji. Everything on the mountain had its own unique scent. Nothing smelled like nothing.
Without warning, leaped forward, grasping at the air wildly. Just as she was about to hit the ground, her arms snaked around an invisible leg.
"Uah!" The disembodied voice cried out in shock. Momiji felt the intruder trying to forcibly wiggle her leg from the wolf's grip, but Momiji held firm. In moments, the voice cried out once more, but this time it was followed by a loud thud as the intruder lost her balance and fell to the ground.
Momiji rose to her knees and looked down at her prisoner with pride. At some point during the struggle, the intruder's camouflage had been shut off, revealing her obvious identity, Nitori Kawasiro.
"Oh no," the kappa rolled over and whimpered. "I fell on it."
"Your Optical Camouflage?"
"No!" Nitori sat up and glared at the wolf before holding up her broken treasure. "My dinner!"
Momiji shook her head and sighed, pitying the poor kappa. She was clutching a cucumber, broken in half and now covered in dirt.
"I wanted to stay out here a bit longer, too."
"Sorry," the wolf shrugged. "You know I can't resist a good chase."
"Sheesh," Nitori grumbled, glaring at her attacker. "You just had to wake up, didn't you."
Momiji narrowed her eyes at the kappa. "Just how long have you been out here?" Any why didn't the other wolves notice her?
"The whole time!" Nitori jumped to her feet and puffed out her chest in pride. "I even managed to snag one of those rice balls from that muscle-head uncle of yours. My Optical Camouflage v1.97 is nearing its final test runs!" She looked down at her captor and frowned. "Obviously it's not ready for 2.0 yet if you can catch me."
"You upgraded?" Momiji questioned as she rose to her feet. She needed to be ready if Nitori decided to dash away and start round two of their game. It wouldn't be the first time she had done so on a whim. "I take it masking your scent is part of it, now."
"Yep!" The cucumber-loving girl boasted. "With 96.7% accuracy, the latest in kappa technology can negate the smell of even the most egregious offenders. Not that I need that kind of strength for myself, of course. I just won't be satisfied until I hit that 100% mark."
"Naturally," the wolf nodded along. "But you know I'm going to have to report this, right."
"Can you?" Nitori had almost jumped with glee as she leaned towards Momiji pleadingly. "Once I perfect this, I'm going to need a lot more variables for my field trial. You guys were instrumental in the perfection of my Optical Camouflage v1.0, so I hope I can count on you guys again."
"We're not here for your benefit," Momiji practically growled. She could remember a time when the kappas would keep to the river away from the mountain. Most still do, but after the Hakurei miko and the witch had all but rushed through Tengu lands unscathed, this particular kappa had taken to pushing her luck. "Do you even have business with the crows today, or are you just breaking our rules for fun?"
"Not for fun; for research!" Nitori was quick to point out the distinction. "But I do have business with the crows. I told them I'd come take a look at one of their printing machines today. Apparently it's only printing every other line, now. They should just let me upgrade it and be done with it!"
"You have business with the crows then?"
"That's what I said."
"And how long have you been out here?"
"The whole ti-" The kappa stopped short upon noting the wolf's eyes falling into a glare. "I mean... not long. I just got here. Really!"
"I'm sure," Momiji snickered. She loved her job, and times like these only emphasized that fact. After all, where else could she spend her days fighting intruders one day and teasing kappa the next. She wouldn't trade it for the world.
"But you know," the wolf continued with a smirk, "if you truly do have business with the crow, I would be remiss to ignore you. As a member of the Tengu Patrol Corps, it's my duty to both drive out intruders and to ensure the safety of our guests. Perhaps it would be best if I escorted you to central personally."
"That's... not necessary," the kappa laughed nervously, trying to back away from the wolf slowly. "I... know the way. Besides, you all do such good work in the Patrol Corps. I won't be put in the least bit of danger on my way there."
"Nonsense," Momiji smirked evilly as she grasped the kappa's arm tightly. "As an Inubashiri, I can't ignore my duty like that. I have to make sure you get to central as soon as possible," she allowed her expression to fall into one of deadly seriousness, "and nowhere else."
"Crap," the kappa muttered under her breath. "No more tests today, then."
"Nope."
Momiji simply smiled, dragging the kappa forward with her. Perhaps it was a good thing that she'd never get the chance to inherit leadership of her clan. She was beginning to realize that she loved being in charge a little too much.
⑨
Something wasn't right, Momiji noted as she strode through the Patrol Corps headquarters. There were too many wolves here for this time of night. Each wolf in the Corps had a staggered patrol shift with the other members, so no shift ended exactly when another did. As such, members of the corps were entering and leaving headquarters at all hours of the day. No one stood idly in central for long.
There were several dozen wolves standing idly now.
She recognized most of them, and she knew that a handful of them had shifts that ended hours ago. Something had happened here, and it was big.
Regardless, it didn't matter to her. It was none of her business. Whatever it was, she'd learn about it sooner or later if it were important. All that mattered was that she finished her debriefing, went home, and got reacquainted with her futon.
Napping on the job was not going to become a habit if she could help it.
"Inubashiri," a booming voice called out from behind her.
Momiji turned to meet the voice head on, though she instinctively tensed and gave a formal salute to the owner upon doing so. "Captain!"
"At ease, Inubashiri," the man waved her off with a grin. "It's good to see you awake."
"T-That's-"
"I know, I know," he laughed. "I was the one to debrief your uncle earlier. To think that Shameimaru would demand such a thing of you. I've always heard that one was quite the oddball, but I never thought she'd stoop to interfering with corps business. I'll file a formal complaint to her family for you, if you don't mind."
Her uncle... So he hadn't just delivered a meal to her. He'd been listening in on her conversation with Aya that morning as well. In her heart, she knew his reasons were only the survival of the clan, but even still, spying on her was going overboard. She'd have to ask her family to leave her be... when she found the courage, of course. Convincing her father of such a thing would be a feat in itself.
"That's alright, sir," she dismissed her captain's offer. "Miss Shameimaru is well aware of my feelings on the matter." She was still rather appreciative of the gesture, in truth. "Besides, I don't believe a complaint, formal or otherwise, would convince her to act any different."
"You have prior experience with her, then?"
"Yes, sir," she sighed. "More than I'd like, to be honest."
"Perhaps we should continue to the debriefing room, then," the captain laughed again. He'd always been so jovial, and a breath of fresh air from having to deal with her overly serious family. "We wouldn't want you to be found guilty of the public slander of a crow, now, would we?"
"No, sir," even Momiji had to laugh. His attitude was infectious.
The two wolves found themselves in the captain's private office, which was quite different than she was used to. Though she'd spoken with the captain on numerous occasions during her career, she'd never had the pleasure of visiting the captain in his office before. Though it felt odd and somewhat out of place, Momiji tried to pay it no more mind than that. For the most part, she was glad to be rid of the crowd at the entrance, especially since it seemed as if some of them had followed the two of them for most of the trek.
"Please," the captain motioned towards a wooden chair opposing his own, "have a seat."
Chairs were not something Momiji was used to. Her family was rather traditional. Everything they did that required a table was done so kneeling. Hew own family's tables were all much lower to the ground as well. As a wolf, it was much easier to relax when closer to nature. In this chair, however, she felt constrained and the table in the center of the room felt looming and ominous.
She didn't like it here, but she couldn't very well voice that opinion.
"Thank you," she smiled weakly, trying to shove aside her anxiety.
"I've heard reports," the captain spoke, having seated himself, "that you escorted a woman in a red dress to the border. Numerous reports, all saying the same thing, but none of them could tell us exactly how that woman managed to get to the very heart of our territory. Now, I'm hoping you can shed some light on that fact."
"She is a Curse Goddess, sir," Momiji didn't hesitate.
"A Goddess," the captain mused. "I suppose that's why she was able to to it, then."
"Now quite, sir," Momiji explained. "Her ability allows her to sense the misfortune of others. From what she's told me, she is able to sense the location of every wolf on patrol at any given time."
"That is... a dangerous ability."
"I thought so as well, sir. I recommend the border more heavily patrolled in the future, sir."
"Agreed," the captain nodded. "Do you know why this goddess suddenly appeared?"
"She claims it was because of me, sir."
"How so?"
Momiji let out a soft sigh. It wasn't as if she thought she could avoid reporting this, but it was still somewhat embarrassing looking back on.
"Apparently she was attracted to my misfortune, sir."
"Misfortune," the captain's brow furrowed, and Momiji could swear his eyes grew more distant. "Explain."
"She has the ability to remove various amounts of misfortune from others. She claimed," she forced a laugh, trying to play it off as nothing of importance. "She claimed I had too much for my own good."
"I see." The captain's brow furrowed further. Momiji could only barely hear him mumble his next words. "I wish she had come sooner."
"Sir?"
"Nothing," the captain shook his head before daring to look at Momiji again. "I'll see what I can do about preventative measure for other situations like this. Please, continue, or was she the only disturbance.
She had not been, in fact. After having escorted the goddess to the border, she had prevented a group of three fairies from attempting to sneak in. They had been harmless, of course, so the only thing of note to discuss was the kappa.
"Nitori-"
"Again?" The captain let out a loud sigh. "How many times is it, now?"
"Too many, sir. She's becoming a serious issue, though. Her camouflage has reached the stage when it can begin to mask her scent, and it won't be long until she perfects that technology."
"And the crows continue to give her passage," the captain grumbled. "They're allowing her to test what could be their own demise."
"I wouldn't go that far, sir." That was a bit extreme. "As long as Nitori keeps the technology to herself, I believe her to only continue with her usual, minor infractions."
"That's if she keeps it to herself," the captain frowned. "There's always the possibility that someone takes it from her by force."
"Perhaps I should be on the lookout for her in the future," Momiji offered. "When I find her, I could bring her here. Nitori is reasonable enough... if persuaded. I'm sure she and the corps can come to a mutual agreement."
"The future..." Again, the captain's eyes grew distant, and Momiji could no longer keep silent.
"Sir," she began tentatively, "is there something wrong."
"Yes," the captain sighed heavily. "I have a reputation, Inubashiri. I'm sure you've heard of it. There's a certain human saying that others say fits me quite well. I am one to wear my heart on my sleeve. When I'm proud, my chest swells. When I'm happy, I laugh. When I'm angry, I yell. When I'm disappointed," he sighed again, slouching back in his chair, "I can barely function."
"Is this about-"
"No," he shot up and waved her off. "I've already told you I understand. Everyone understands. I'll make sure your record has no blemishes because of it. You've been nothing but perfect from the first day you started all the way until... the end."
The end? "What's going on, sir?"
"We are a purely White Wolf force, Inubashiri. As such, we answer to only two factions. The crows are obvious. You've dealt with how they can be today. The other, however, would be the Council of Elder Wolves." The man was practically growling by the time he mentioned the council.
"Did the council do something?"
"I'm sorry, Momiji," the captain clenched his fist. "I wanted to smile today. To honor everything you and your family had done, but I can't. Forgive me if I lose myself to this. I don't agree with their decision on this."
It sounded like he was... Oh no...
"In their infinite wisdom," he sarcastically spat, "the council has decided to... request your reassignment. This is to be your final day as a member of the corps."
"No," she shook her head in disbelief. This wasn't right. This couldn't be. She was an Inubashiri. The corps was all that mattered to her. It was what her clan lived for!
It wasn't long before her attitude matched her captain's. In anger, she shot to her feet and slammed her fists onto the table. "Why? This makes no sense! My family has been the core foundation of the corps since its inception. What possible reason would they have to demand something so... ludicrous?"
"Believe me, Momiji," the captain growled, setting aside all formality, "I had the very same question. When the grandson of the third elder arrived for duty, I was there to greet him, demanding these very answers."
"Then why?"
"Even he couldn't say for sure, but he mentioned something... odd." The captain's face contorted as if he were in pain... as if he were about to say something blasphemous. "According to him, the council was only to meet with one representative today."
Momiji's eyes narrowed and she bore a hole into her captain before asking in a venomous tone. "Who?"
"It was your uncle, Yukio."
Momiji felt her knees give, and she found herself falling back into the chair behind her. That was it, then. It was true. Yukio would do something like that, wouldn't he? He did do it. He wasn't satisfied with just signing her life away. He wanted to make sure she had nothing left. He wanted to make sure there was no hope left. It was over.
"Momiji..." The captain's voice was soft now, though she barely paid heed to it. It didn't matter. None of it mattered. "It is with a heavy heart that I must now honorably discharge you from service. Your contributions over the years will never be forgotten, and I hope you consider the corps your family, regardless of your membership status."
"What do I do, now?" She whispered meekly. All her life she'd trained for this position, and it was being taken from her by the decree of a council who she'd never met. That goddess had been right. She was cursed.
"I don't know," the captain spoke solemnly in reply. "The council did not inform us of anything beyond what I've relayed to you. If they have issued any decree on the matter, it likely would have been delivered to your family." He growled again. "Yukio would know."
Yukio...
Momiji laughed.
Yes, Yukio would know.
Slowly, Momiji rose, a crazed glimmer growing in her eyes.
"What will you do now?" Her former captain asked, though she supposed she no longer had any obligation to answer him. Still, she did so anyway.
"Isn't it obvious," she practically cackled. "I'm going home."
With that, she turned and stormed out of the room... only to be met by the horde of wolves she had noticed at the front gate. Before she could even raise an eyebrow, the crowd began to applaud.
It seemed news traveled fast, especially in the company of wolves. They had all stuck around, some well beyond the end of their shifts, to see her off. They were here to see her off with a smile.
But that was irrelevant, Momiji shrugged the crowd off as she pushed through them. Their smiles... their appreciation... their applause was meaningless to her now. Her mind was set on one thing and one thing alone.
She was going to see her uncle.
⑨
Momiji practically ripped off the sliding door to her younger uncle's house as she stormed inside. The journey home had done nothing to satiate her anger. Instead, it had only served to strengthen it. Other wolves on patrol had attempted to stop her, wanting to give their thanks and other worthless pleasantries, but she merely ignored them.
They'd likely talk about her in the future. There would likely be rumors due to her demeanor, but Momiji couldn't be bothered with her own reputation this night.
She needed answers, and she'd damn well get them.
"Yukio!" Momiji howled in fury. "Where are you?"
"M-Momiji" a timid voice rang beside her, drawing the girl's ire. It was one of Yukio's daughters, her cousin slightly older than her sister, currently kneeling at the foot of the table in the main room. This girl had always been quiet, never quite cut out to carry the legacy of her name but still strove to nonetheless. She was easily frightened, and that was more evident now more than ever.
"Where is he," Momiji demanded, not caring how scared she was making her cousin. It didn't matter who she had to yell at and make demands from. She'd get what she came here for.
"I'm here, niece."
Momiji didn't bother to wait until her uncle had fully entered the room. In a frenzy, she pounced on him, dragging him into the room and shoving him forcibly into the closest wall she could find. Though she had to fly to reach his full height, she was dead set on making sure her uncle knew that he wasn't allowed to leave until she was satisfied.
"Father!" Her cousin shouted, though Momiji didn't bother to avert her gaze to look. Instead, her uncle took the liberty.
"It's fine, daughter," he gazed over his niece's shoulder and gave a fake smile. "We've just had a small disagreement. Why don't you go see if your mother could use some help in the kitchen, hm?"
There was a hesitation before the girl spoke again. "Y-Yes, father." Momiji's ears barely registered the sound of her cousin's footsteps as she exited the room. When she was certain that she was alone, she emphasized her glare with a feral growl.
"You... had... no... right... to-"
"Unhand me," her uncle matched her growl. With strength she had not been aware the reconnaissance expert possessed, her uncle shoved Momiji back, freeing himself from her grip. The sheer force of the act had caught the former patrolwoman off guard, and she barely managed to land on the table behind her without falling backwards. Though, her uncle was less than pleased with that outcome. "And get off my table. Your feet are filthy."
Reluctantly, Momiji did as her uncle asked, though she made a point to not let up on her glare. She matched her uncle's movements as she knelt at the foot of the table while Yukio knelt at the head. It seemed as if her uncle wanted to treat this as some sort of formal meeting.
She would not oblige. She'd been forced to hold her tongue the previous night, but the same would not be said of this one. This time, she would speak her mind.
"You should know your place while in my ho-"
"I have no place," Momiji spat. "Thanks to you."
"Moaning like a newborn pup dishonors your service," Yukio brushed off, "as well as this family."
"Forgive me," she laughed, "but I would think that filling the council's ears with sweet nothings just to get your way would be more dishonorable to this family. I can't say for certain of your upbringing, but mine made it clear that such a thing was not the Inubashiri way."
"And what is the Inubashiri way?" Her uncle challenged. "Is it to live for the fight that no longer comes like my brother Michio? Is it to simply live life as a member of the corps without question like your mother? Or is it to lead our clan to their eventual demise with a whimper like your father?"
"Speak ill of father again and he will hear of it."
"So you choose to cry to your father until you get your way?" Yukio rolled his eyes and laughed. "I thought that such cowardice was unbecoming of an Inubashiri, according to you." He shook his head in disappointment. "Unlike the rest of you, I seem to be the only one willing to protect these lands," his eyes narrowed before continuing, "by any means necessary."
"Protect?" Her mouth nearly hung open in disbelief. "You think removing me from my position the best way to protect our lands?"
"Surely you were aware that certain sacrifices were necessary for the good of the clan," her uncle challenged. "Surely you had prepared yourself after being ordered by your father to all but strip yourself of the Inubashiri name."
"Father only requested-"
"Oh, niece," Yukio shook his head again. "You and I both know that wasn't a request. You think yourself the only one who can see through him? He is my brother. I say with all certainty that I know him better than you."
"You're mad," Momiji balled her fists in anger. "That the council would even listen to you is ludicrous. What could you have possibly enticed them with to have them go along with this?"
"Integration!" Her uncle let out a crazed laugh. "Though they are fools to think such a thing were possible."
"Integration?"
"Yes," he hissed. "I informed the council of our plans for Miss Shameimaru. The fools were all too eager to do whatever I requested after that." He pointed at Momiji with a smirk. "You are their hope, though a false one. In their old age, they have forgotten how to be the proud wolves they once were. Instead, they yearn to sprout wings and call themselves crows. The prospect of one of their own joining the family of a crow was too much for them to resist. Their one hope is for you to become the beacon of a new era."
Integration... that was a strange notion. Her entire life had been experienced through the lens of wolves and crows. To think that there was a possibility that such titles could be abolished was... well, it was unthinkable, regardless of how admiral the notion was.
"And you don't share their opinion?"
"Of course not!" Yukio cringed with indignation. "I am well aware that Miss Shameimaru is an exception to the standards of the crow. The true madness here is that the council believes this event to be more than a unique occurrence. This notion begins and ends with you, dear niece."
"I'm flattered," she stated with sarcastic dryness.
"You should be," he said, disregarding her tone. "Integration would only lead to the wolves losing ourselves to the ways of the crow. Nothing could be more disgraceful to lose our White Wolf pride."
"You hate the crow, don't you?"
"Perish the thought, niece!" Much to Momiji's surprise, Yukio looked genuinely offended at her assumption. "I speak only on the matter of pride. The crows take pride in their doings just as we do in ours. Though we are all Tengu, our ways are unique and should be celebrated as such. The pride of the crow is of the same importance as our own. I could not stand to honor the name of our clan if I had any ill will towards those we have sworn to protect. I simply want more for our family. Do you not?"
In truth, she did not know. This entire situation was about the possible salvation of the Inubashiri, but after all that had happened in the past two days, did she even care?
"I still don't understand," she spoke with a calm voice, now. There was far too much to think about for her to maintain her rage, but still more answers that needed to be sought first. "What good does it do to strip an Inubashiri of their rank and position. Whose benefit does it serve, the clan's or yours?"
"The clan's benefit, dear."
"That's... irrelevant, actually," Momiji brushed her claim aside. "Forget I asked that. The real question is why. This all seems counter-intuitive to what our clan stands for. Reassigning me to some unknown post outside the corps doesn't seem to serve your interest, let alone the clan's."
"Your new post is hardly unknown, niece," Yukio practically shuttered with glee. "I was the one who suggested it, after all."
"Then what is it!" Momiji screamed. "What can be so important that it justifies taking me away from the only position I could ever pride myself in having?"
"You are to be the assistant of a particular crow," He grinned with pride, more for his own ingenious designs than anything. "A crow that has fired every assistant that has volunteered to work for her, but I can assure you, dear niece, that same fate will not befall you. She wouldn't dare part with you."
Momiji gritted her teeth and glared daggers at her uncle. The name spoken next was unnecessary. There was only one crow she'd be misfortunate enough to get stuck with. She prayed silently that it wasn't true, but no deity answered her call that night.
"You will be the personal assistant of Miss Shameimaru of the Bunbunmaru Newspaper. You start tomorrow. I suggest you prepare."
Earlier, she had been foolish to think that the day's events were nothing less than pleasant. She had been wrong in that observation.
Today had been a Nightmare.
Note that although Aya was mentioning Scarlet in passing, Scarlet the story is still unfinished. The events of it have already occurred as of this fic, though. I'll never outright spoil the ending to it, but I might continue to vaguely describe events I plan to have happen in Scarlet over the course of this fic. Such instances will be few and far between, nevertheless.
Fun Fact: Exactly 1 person from Russia has read chapter one at the time of posting this new chapter. You know who you are.
