Chapter Two
"Mmmm… Tomoe…"
"Nanami…"
"Mmm?"
"Nanami…"
Huh, loud dreams…
"NANAMI."
The said goddess's eyes flashed open at the sudden shout, and she shot up from her sleep, messy hair falling in front of her face.
"What… Tomoe? What is it? Do you have any idea what time it is? The sun isn't even out!"
The familiar nodded nonchalantly, fanning himself. "It's 4:00 am; I let you sleep in an extra hour after Mizuki kept on pestering me about it," he explained. "Now you should get up and get ready ASAP."
Nanami was rubbing her eyes, glaring at Tomoe drowsily. "Why did you think of waking me up so early, I can barely keep my eyes open, Tomoe," she yawned.
"Because, you're meeting Inari today, meaning the early morning," Tomoe replied.
"Isn't this excessively early, though?"
"You've never met Inari, now have you?"
"No, and asking you won't do any good because you just get all worked up about it," Nanami sighed.
Tomoe didn't reply, only shrugged as he stared somewhat expectantly at Nanami.
"What is it?"
Tomoe shook his head. "Nothing," he said, yanking her at the arm. "Just get up and get ready already."
Nanami shook her head. "I'm taking my time."
"Hurry up or I'm getting you ready myself. From bathing to dressing."
Understandably, Nanami's face paled as her expression began to scowl.
"Er… wait, that didn't come out the –"
"GET OUT, STUPID FOX."
"And don't come in unless I say so from this point on, either!"
Jeez, that Tomoe… does he ever think about what he's saying? Meeting a god… I guess my normal clothes won't work out.
҉
"My, what was all the commotion about, Tomoe-kun?"
The white-haired fox sighed, rubbing his forehead irritably. "That girl…"
Mizuki raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure it's her fault?"
"Of course it is, if she weren't the way she was then I wouldn't be having this problem."
Mizuki nodded, giving a smile. "Tomoe-kun is stupid, plain and simple. So she's meeting Inari, are you sure you aren't just psyching yourself out about this?"
"Inari is nothing to be revered. His messengers just mindlessly follow him and treat other familiars like trash," Tomoe pointed out. "My self-respect is much higher than what those damned foxes expect of me, so I'll never bring myself to follow him."
"That doesn't explain the god himself, though."
"A cynical bastard, that's what he is. One of the last gods I met before Mikage disappeared, actually."
Mizuki gave a small laugh. "And for that reason, you're so unnerved by his visitation."
"I'm not unnerved."
"What do you call it, then, Tomoe-kun?"
Tomoe's ears lowered as he hesitated in his answer, however, in the end, he never replied.
That damned god… he of all people would never agree with having a human as the land god, especially in Mikage's place. No doubt about it… he'd ridicule Nanami every damn second. Plus those foxes of his… damn, I don't want to imagine what they'll do.
Subconsciously, Tomoe's scowl deepened.
"Ah, Tomoe-kun, try to keep your temper, we have a guest," Mizuki announced, his will-o'-wisp craning its head in front of him.
In the distance was a white fox walking leisurely at the gate of Mikage shrine. It seemed rather comfortable in the area, paying the two familiars no mind as it walked past.
Mizuki leaned towards Tomoe with a puzzled expression. "You know, a familiar just walked into the shrine on its own validation."
"It's Inari's familiar, so I can't do much."
"Now what do you mean by that? Should I be concerned?"
Tomoe glanced down at the fox as it waited for him and Mizuki to follow, tail sweeping in the air.
"We'll find out," he muttered, walking into the shrine slowly.
Already, the familiar was scratching at Nanami's door like a dog or cat, while giving off a rather enigmatic attitude about it. It looked over at Tomoe and Mizuki, tilting its head.
Tomoe laughed bitterly. "Under orders, I'm not obligated to open the door for you, fox. You could freeze to death and I still wouldn't let you in," he stated. "You're not a Red Light District fox, so I've nothing to worry about, hm?"
"Tomoe-kun, what does that have to do with anything?" Mizuki asked, knocking on Nanami's door. "Nanami-chan, we've a guest, are you ready?"
The door cracked open, Nanami's head peering out. She tilted her head. "Um… I don't see a guest."
Tomoe placed his hand on her head, forcing her to look down. "Now do you?"
She blinked, smiling nervously. "Is… are you Inari' familiar?" she asked, pointing down at the white fox.
It nodded, taking several steps back and leaving the area.
"Ah, she's going to the living room," Tomoe noted. "Nanami, are you ready?"
"Um, I couldn't find very formal clothes, so… I'm stuck in a pretty plain kimono, but yeah, I'm ready," she replied with a nod.
"About time," Tomoe stated, dragging her out.
"Don't be so rough, Tomoe-kun. Nanami-chan's delicate," Mizuki scolded.
"Ah, a delicate land goddess? My master will not be impressed."
Stepping in front of the odd trio was a woman with long, trailing white hair and distant gold eyes. "So, you are the goddess that is in place of Mikage, human?" she asked.
Whoa… so pretty… so this is a holy fox? She has a way different aura from Tomoe… almost regal.
Nanami nodded, giving a short bow. "Um, yes, that's me. My name is Nanami Momozono. It's nice to meet you. I'm happy that your master wants to see me. But," Nanami paused. "Where is Inari?"
The fox-woman's face stayed indifferent as she answered, nodding in acknowledgement of Nanami's introduction. "Unfortunately, short-noticed difficulties came up within my master's faction, and he cannot make it. As a prime messenger, I am here in his place. He apologises for the inconvenience."
Her speech is so different too. I didn't think there'd be this much of a difference.
"If you don't mind my asking, what's your—"
"Amane is what I am addressed by," the woman cut in sharply, her expression never changing.
Nanami was taken aback by her quick response, and looked over at Mizuki nervously.
"What sort of person is Inari like?" Nanami decided to take advantages of Amane's responses.
Amane sighed. "He's a complex person, that's all I can say. Now, may we take to a more comfortable area to discuss these brief matters?"
The snake familiar smiled. "To oblige to a holy messenger's tastes, how about I prepare some sake? Surely speaking in a cramped hallway isn't to your liking?"
Amane nodded silently at his offer. "That is appreciated, snake familiar. You've my gratitude in advance," she stated.
Nanami smiled. "Ah, that's good! And tell Inari that I don't mind his absence; it's understandable how he could have more important things to do, really. However, what did he want to talk about?"
Amane glanced over at Tomoe. "It relates to the fox familiar, Tomoe," she explained.
Nanami turned to face Tomoe, who had a calm expression on his face. "Of course, what is it?" he asked, staying attentive.
"Um, Tomoe, I thought you weren't—"
"I would assume that since I am not like my fellow sisters, that I am a singular exception to his reluctance," Amane said curtly. She began to walk over to the table, set up with sake as Mizuki had prepared, her tail flicking for Nanami and Tomoe to follow. "Sitting is preferred to drinking sake, if you don't mind."
Nanami nodded rigidly, sitting down almost obediently as Amane continued.
"Fox familiar, you realise the boundaries you're stepping, am I correct?"
"I see no boundaries as long as I do my job as a familiar and protect my master," he replied.
"That's not the case in Inari's opinion. You are young, even by Yokai standards, yet you've managed to get such a vicious and unforgettable reputation that Inari is no longer able to put up with your insubordination," Amane stated, her voice rising sharply.
Tomoe remained fairly aloof. "That's the past, and this is now, that's all I can say. I can't deny that I was… a wild fox, as most put it, but I will not, under any circumstance, forfeit my freedom and place as a familiar. I worked under Mikage, and now, 20 years later, under Nanami."
Amane nodded. "I see, so that's your answer?"
Huh, what answer? Did she ask a question?
"It is."
Nanami was baffled, looking at Tomoe in a panic. "Tomoe, what is she talking about? What answer?"
"Nanami, it's nothing. Just a little bet between me and the god of grain."
"What? A bet? Tomoe, what are you—"
"Ah, it appears that my master will not show up at all this morning…" Amane muttered.
Nanami whipped around at what appeared to be Amane's intended interruption. "Oh?"
Tomoe sipped the sake as he answered. "High ranking messengers have a telepathic connection with Inari.
"Also, Tomoe, be grateful that Ryukichi was restrained from showing up."
The fox's face dropped instantly at the name as he set his sake down. "My appetite was just lost…"
"The poor man was heartbroken; however, I'm sure he'll survive. Anyways, there's been a disturbance in the Yokai realm, and I'm being summoned back, good day, Nanami."
As abruptly as she came, the fox-woman shifted into a fox and left.
Nanami bit her lower lip as she glanced at Tomoe. He seemed to be in a deep train of thought, glaring down at the table with a scowl on his face.
"Uh… T—"
"Nanami," he began, looking over at her suddenly.
"Yeah?"
"No matter what happens from this point forward, I am, and always will be, your familiar."
A slight blush crossed Nanami's cheeks. "W-where's that coming from, Tomoe?"
Tomoe sighed. "Forget I said anything, it's not something I should make you worry about. I'll get to breakfast now."
Nanami watched intently as he left, hearing Mizuki laugh. "Do you get it, Tomoe?"
"Mizuki."
"Hmm?"
"You're on fire; you should get that checked out."
Nanami was too distracted to hear the argument.
What's he mean by all that? What bet and why point out his status as a familiar now? It's a bit late for that, unless I'm missing something.
She grasped at her chest.
Stupid Tomoe, making my heart messed up like this… stop saying things like that and walk away so casually. It brings my hopes up. It's cruel.
