Hey! Thank you so much for all these reviews, I really wasn't expecting so much feedback!

The chapters in this fic are all probably going to be between 1k and 2k words, to make me write and publish faster.

Enjoy!


Chapter 2: God of War

Ryouta does have a shrine, really, but it's small and not comfy and dark—he doesn't want to welcome his new shinki in such a place. It's important to make a good first impression, after all, right? His new shinki needs to settle in the best way possible.

But Ryouta rubs his neck, tries to shake off the uneasiness and the prickling—to no avail. He sighs and turns to his shinki, putting on a grin.

"We'll stop at a sacred place tonight," he says. "It's safer this way, ayakashi won't attack us."

They've been walking for fifteen minutes and all the while Nijimu has been silent, looking all around him as if he was discovering the world for the first time. Sakumu didn't try to engage a conversation either, so maybe all this discomfort also comes from this silence that seems nerve-wracking for the shinki. Ryouta shakes his head and stops in front of a small temple, barely big enough to fit ten people in it, but there is holy water in the basin at the entrance and the place is protected—this is enough. He sits on the stairs in front of the temple's doors.

"Here we are!" he announces. "So, Nijimu, what do you know so far?"

Sakumu settles on a lower march than Ryouta on the right, so Nijimu does the same on the left. He scratches his cheek.

"Well, I assume I'm dead," he says.

Ryouta nods. "That's right. Some people don't realize it when they become shinki. That saves me the pain of breaking the news to you."

Nijimura smiles at that, despite the fact that the thought of being dead disturbs him a little. He feels quite alive, after all, walking, thinking and talking.

"Do I get clothes though?" he points to his white kimono. "I hardly see myself walking in town dressed like that."

"Of course, of course!" Ryouta chuckles. "We'll go shopping tomorrow."

Nijimu kind of wonders where they buy their clothes, though, because while Sakumu wears simple jeans with a white shirt and a dark blue sweater and sneakers, Ryouta looks like a model from a fashion magazine—yellow shirt with a thin black jacket, beige pants hugging just enough his legs, and black shoes. Nijimu would have never thought that gods dressed this way.

Ryouta rubs once again his neck, the anxiety not going away and he slightly frowns—he can't let the tension build up like that, especially when he needs to train a new shinki. He rolls his shoulders.

"Well, I know you've never been a shinki before, so I'll explain some things," he says, lifting one finger. "First, you have to obey me when I call you as my weapon. Second, you must get along with Sakumu. Third, be happy!"

Nijimu blinks. Sakumu covers his face with his hand. Ryouta gives them a big smile.

"Yup. I don't ask much of you, right?"

"I admit that it wasn't what I expected," Nijimu replies.

"Now that we introduced ourselves, let's go to sleep! I'm beat."

Nijimu looks confused and Sakumu's eyebrows draw in, but before either one can react, Ryouta enters the temple and slams the doors behind in a sound that is giving a final point to the conversation. Sakumu sighs and smiles apologetically at Nijimu.

"Sorry about that, he's been... weird today," he explains.

Nijimu watches his partner's face twist in a worried but resigned expression. He doesn't know the meaning of it, although he guesses Sakumu will take care of whatever issue there is with their god since it seems to have occurred before. He shrugs, getting up and stretching.

"No problem, I hope he'll get better. Are you going to see him?"

"No, he needs some time alone when he's like this...," Sakumu state. "I'm sorry I can't say anything!"

"Woah don't apologize so much, I understand!"

Sakumu is bowing and fumbling with his words and is making Nijimu out of place, making the atmosphere even worse and unsettling. The whole thing shouldn't be so embarrassing—but something tugs at the new shinki's heart and urges him to do something. So he extends his arm and awkwardly pats Sakumu's head, looking a bit away and maybe a little unsure.

"Calm down, okay? You don't have to explain everything."

Sakumu looks up, sees the slight flush on Nijimu's face, and he is hit with the realization that he might have found an older brother in this person that doesn't look that much older than him.


Ryouta leans over the basin, releases slow breathes, gripping firmly the edge of the structure in stone. He takes his time adjusting his respiration, in and out, in and out, and grabs the towel he put right beside him. He plunges it into the holy water, wrung it, and slaps it on his neck. The cold sensation sends him shivers and he slightly grimaces, but he can already tell it soothed his muscles and his neck doesn't hurt that much anymore. The prickling ceases and the uneasiness goes away—he is relieved to be in top shape again. Well, almost in top shape, but at least nobody will notice.

He cleans the blight twice before going back to sleep.


"I told you he would sleep there!"

"Of course he'd sleep here, he's playing the homeless guy."

"That's right, yeah!"

Ryouta's eyes twitch. He vaguely registers what is said and he knows these voices—one always cheerful, the other always grumpy. He feels safe with them, like in a cocoon protected by thick walls. Slowly his eyelids flutter open and he is immediately assaulted by bright light and a grin just as dazzling. He squints.

"What?" he croaks out.

"What, 'what'?" the dark-haired boy chuckles. "Shin-chan isn't very happy, you know!"

The young looking man is crouching right beside Ryouta's head, his chin in his palm and head mildly tilted to the side, still grinning like a real child. The other person accompanying him is wearing a stern look, arms crossed and looking around the little temple. Ryouta sighs and sits up, rubbing his eyes.

"What time is it?"

"A little past eleven, actually," the boy answers, and Ryouta pouts—he didn't expect sleeping so much.

"Shintarocchi won't be mad if I say that I found a new shinki. You have to see him, Kazunaricchi!"

Genuinely surprised and taken aback like he just got run over, Kazunari stares at his friend, gaping. Ryouta smiles sheepishly at him.

"Kasabu, our Ryou-chan is growing up," Kazunari gasps.

"It's true that this is unusual," Kasabu adds, one eyebrow raised.

Before they can bomb Ryouta with questions, Sakumu enters the temple, bringing in nikuman and bottles of tea. Nijimu is following close behind, and Kazunari springs to his feet to meet him.

"Sakumu didn't even tell me you were the new shinki of Ryou-chan!" he exclaims with glee. "Woah, you look great! What's your name?"

"Uh, Nijimu."

"Oh, 'Niji' as your name? That's... interesting."

Kazunari quickly cast Kasabu a side glance that went unnoticed by the others. However a second later, as if nothing happened, he reports his attention back to Ryouta, who got up and stretched.

"What kind of weapon is he?"

"He's a naginata, I've never had one before!" Ryouta chirps.

"That's convenient, Kasabu will train him," Kazunari says. "Lance against naginata, though! It sounds fun."

"You know I don't like sparring with a new shinki!"

"Well, I wasn't saying anything about now."

Ryouta smiles and stands next to Sakumu, thanking him for buying breakfast—how the sword knew his god would wake up so late, that was the question. Kazunari watches the pair interacting with a sharp eye, not missing the way Sakumu seems a bit uncomfortable, with his squirming and squeaking—somehow it was more noticeable than usual, thus more pronounced. Kasabu decides to talk to Nijimu instead, leaving god matters to gods. He extends his hand, which Nijimu takes with a firm shake.

"Kasabu, I'm the god Kazunari's shinki. He's a god of war, and I'm a lance. Welcome among us."

"Thanks, I'm Nijimu... and a naginata," Nijimu replies with a frown.

"Yeah, it takes some time to get used to introducing ourselves like that," Kasabu laughs.

Nijimu nods, feeling right away that Kasabu is someone responsible and reliable—these hard eyes and proud stance can't deny it. He can't help but staring at the mark on Kasabu's right forearm, near the elbow, where a red 'Kasa' kanji is written. It looks like everyone is marked in different places—Nijimu's is on his left collarbone. He quietly wonders if the place has any meaning for each shinki.

Kasabu gives him a slap in the back with such strength that Nijimu almost doubles over, leaning forward and letting out a small cry.

"Don't worry about anything, Ryouta-sama is a good person," Kasabu reassures. "He looks like a fool and does act like one, but you're in good hands."

"Sakumu keeps telling me this as well, is he some sort of god of fortune or something?" Nijimu mumbles.

Kasabu's lips tug slightly upward in a knowing smile.

"He's a god of war."


Yay for the god of war Takao! The shinki I showed you is Kasamatsu. Takao has other shinki, but for now I just introduced Kasamatsu.
笠武 'Kasabu', the kanji 武 means 'bravery'. 笠器 'Kasaki' is his weapon name.