The mouse, the tiger and the youkai jesus

Chapter 4: The kimono

There wasn't anything interesting at the same day, but I managed to stay away from master. Why I tried that? Simple. After talking to Hijiri and having a break out of crying like that I couldn't face her. I would probably not be able to keep everything that happened that day a secret anyway. I told everyone that I didn't want to eat because I felt a little sick and they believed it. Because it was hard for me to lie especially to master I told Hijiri to tell them. And she really did it, she lied for me. I've already found out that Hijiri didn't hate me and that she even wanted to help me, but like this, maybe she was even nicer than I thought she was. I just had to get to know her better.

Anyway, that day nothing more happened, only that I fell asleep starving. The morning afterwards I woke up and the first thing on my mind was: FOOD. I immediatly left my room, not caring that I was still wearing my pajamas. I ran into the kitchen, pushing Ichirin out of my way. "Hey!" was all that I heard from her. She probably complained more, but I didn't hear it, because I went into the kitchen quickly. I found Hijiri being the one to cook breakfast again, as soon as she saw me, she seemed surprised, because normally I'd never run around in my pajamas. But at that moment I couldn't care less about that. "Hijiri-sama, I don't want to be rude and I know that breakfast will be ready soon, but... food!" I begged. She smiled at me, chuckling warmly.

Right after that a bowl with miso soup and one with rice were placed in front of me. "Itadakimasu." I said right before starting to eat. Not just did I finally get my stomach stuffed with delicious food, but I also wouldn't have to face master. So still no danger of revealing my secret unwanted. I then noticed Hijiri watching me eat. "mfmngh?" I kept my mouth closed while trying to ask her why she was looking at me. Of course she didn't understand me. So I swallowed the food and started over again. "Why are you looking at me? Do I have something on my face?" She shook her head. "No, but it's nice to see you not hating me anymore and it's unusual seeing you in pajamas." She said while preparing more food. She might be perfect and if you dislike her you might hate it, but if you get along with her you can really enjoy it. At that point I knew why master liked to be Hijiri's follower. "Don't get used to it, you won't have to look at it any longer than until I finish this food. It's good by the way." I changed my attitude towards Hijiri a lot, but it was a good thing, I wanted to exaggerate a little to make up for sending her death glares.

"Oh, thank you. Maybe I could teach you how to cook at some point, so you might be a good wife to someone." She winked at me, making me blush. "Uhm... I should probably go and get dressed in my usual clothing. ... When will we actually go to the Hakurei festival?"" I asked, changing the topic. Hijiri thought for a moment. "Well, I guess we'll go sometime at afternoon. We don't need to be there that early." I nodded and left to my room. Right after I got dressed someone bursted through the front door. I went to take a look at the intruder. It was a crow tengu with short black hair. The famous Shameimaru Aya. She carried a package under her arm. "Hello? Anyone home?" She looked around and then she noticed me. "Oh, hello, am I correct at the Myouren temple? And are you Nazrin?" I went closer to her. "Yes, that's correct and I suppose you brought my package from the puppeteer?" I asked her and took a closer look at the package. "That's right. And she said that I should tell you to give her the money at the Hakurei festival. Have fun with the kimono." She said, giving me the package. "You know what's inside?" Wasn't that kind of a secret? Even for tengu? "I took a peek at the notes about you." She grinned. "You did?" "Yes, I have to say I didn't expect that size of your chest, seriously." "What's this noise all about." A familiar and tired voice behind me asked.

I turned around and found Master. In her pajamas. Heaven. I think I had a nosebleed. "m-master! Good morning to you!" She made an annoyed grunt. It was the morning annoyance. She looked at Shameimaru. "So, anyways, what's this all about?" "Oh, we were just discussing your underling's chest size, which is by the way-" "Jeweled Pagoda: GREATEST TREASURE!" I lifted my strongest spellcard into the air and blasted the surprised tengu out. I was able to make it only when the pagoda was around. Luckily master had brought it with her. I made a little "Phew" before more less reattaching the door. I turned towards master. "I'm sorry for the disturbance, master." I apologized. She walked towards me and I expected a spellcard or a slap or something for the rough wake up call and closed my eyes. Instead of pain I felt a soft wipe under my nose. I opened my eyes and found master wiping the part under my nose with a soft tissue. "huh...?" I wondered. "You had a little blood there, Nazu-chan, are you alright?" I looked at her in her pajamas. She looked so cute... "Yes, I'm fine." I smiled. "Heyo, good morning!" Captain Murasa said. Damn, did she have to burst in right now? I left to my room, giving master a last smile and Murasa a glare.

I immediatly unpacked the kimono and my basket comrade climbed excited out of the basket and looked curiously at my unpacking. "Let's just hope it looks good, huh?" I looked at my friend, who nodded back towards me. After I had removed all of the wrapping, I took a close look at it. It was beautiful, I had to admit that that puppeteer did a good job on it. I unfolded it and looked at it again. Then I held it in front of me. The length seemed to be okay and as I looked into a mirror I noticed that the choice of red really matched my eyes. The girl had made a flower like pattern in gray onto it. Even though I still wasn't a fan of this kind of clothing, this might even look acceptable on me. I looked at the time and thought about putting it on already, but it would be way too soon, I had to wait. I still couldn't believe that I would actually like wearing that thing. It wasn't like me at all.

So I waited and waited. Nothing happened, at least nothing special or interesting, so all I could do was wait some more. After half an hour, which seemed like a year I left the temple and went to dowse. I needed to distract myself so the time would pass more quickly. As I held out my dowsing rods, walking and waiting for a signal, I thought about how to confess to master. It surely wouldn't be easy. In fact, it would be the hardest thing I'd ever have to do. But Hijiri was right, I had to get this out now, the sooner the better... I thought and thought and I walked and walked, even though there was no treasure alarm from my dowsing, I had the most precious treasure in my thoughts. Thinking about her was good use of time in my opinion. Dreaming was always okay, right? Before I knew it some hours have past. I checked the time. "By Bishamonten! I need to get back to the temple!" I said to myself and hurried back. I bursted through the broken front door and entered. I hurried to my room and tried to bind my kimono, but I failed. "Damn, this is kind of hard..." I cursed. I heard a knock at my door "Nazrin, are you ready?" "Not yet... I don't think I can make it on my own..." I admitted. I heard quiet talking outside, I didn't know that there were more people than Hijiri. "Can I come in?" The youkai jesus' voice broke my train of thought. "Yes." I answered. Hijiri came in and looked at me as I was helpless trying to get dressed. She smiled and giggled. "Let me help you." She came to me and started to help me get dressed. "The others already went to the festival. The kimono looks great by the way." She finished binding it. I looked into the mirror, surprised of the way I looked.

"This is... acceptable." I said more to myself than to Hijiri. "Acceptable? You look great! And I know who will think the same way, hehe..." she made a weird face and I started to blush. "Um... you look great yourself." "Thanks." she smiled. I looked at my comrade and took the mouse, putting the basket once again over my tail. "You'll take it with you?" Hijiri asked me. "Of course, I could never abadon my fellow!" Hijiri shrugged and we left. The closer we got to the festival, the more nervous I got. The festival meant master and master meant confession. I blushed at the very thought of that. Hijiri seemed to understand it and let me be in my thought. "It'll be alright." She said to me.

When we arrived I saw the others waiting for us already.

And there she was. Shou. In her kimono. She was gorgeous.


I know this one's kind of short, I'll try to make the next one longer.