#07: Youkai Back Shrine Road
– "Those were fairly lucid thoughts for someone so drunk."
– "Were they? Guess I need more…"
– "Hold on."
– "?"
With a nose as sharp as a beast's, Merry had picked up on the scent of something rustling in the thicket before it ever entered her sight. It was a familiar, pungent aroma.
– "I don't think we're alone here."
The girls backed into a safe hiding spot to observe, as a shadow was cast along the stone path. Its shape stretched forward, large and intimidating, but only as a matter of perspective. The impression it gave was humanoid, with two sharp horns protruding from its head.
Following the shadow to its source among the opposite trees, all that could be seen was a trail of long red hair, which swayed with the breeze to camouflage with the leaves.
– "Could that be…"
– "The one who gave you the saké? Nice!"
Renko eagerly raised an arm to call out, but Merry instinctively pulled her back.
– "Are you insane!?"
– "Already said I was!"
– "You'll risk your life for more of that drink?"
Renko closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose. The fragrance alone was enough to re-intoxicate them both.
– "Ah, I can smell it from here. It smells… so bad…"
– "Bad… in the best way."
– "Right! What're we afraid of?"
Merry's grip on her friend's sleeve slowly loosened. The girl was cautious by instinct, but it occurred to her that she wasn't actually feeling any fear.
Next move uncalculated, the two humans rushed forward together toward the stranger.
– "Fortune out, oni in!"
The figure turned sharply– and a pair of grinning, glassy eyes shone out, startling the pair who had meant to startle. From behind the brightly-colored mane, a large, smooth tail emerged into view, looking as if it could bowl them both over in one swipe. The rest of the creature's body transfigured before their eyes, but there was no time to discern the new shape. As quickly as it had appeared, it disappeared into the forest, leaving only a single leaf to float down and mark its place.
– "We were tricked! What a shame!"
Even through disappointed words, the maidens' thrilled hearts held no room for disappointment. They stumbled over each other in their giddy confusion, barely trying to regain their bearings.
– "Tha… that was no oni. Was it one o' those shapeshifting foxes?"
– "No way! It must have been a tanuki!"
– "How d'you tell the difference?"
– "That's obvious! There're eight classic signs to spot a tanuki."
Merry began rattling off several of these, as easily as if she were reading off a script: a guarding hat, a single furry tail, a dazzling smile… and, naturally, a bottle of saké in hand.
– "Lucky she didn't hear you make that mistake. Tanuki… simply hate foxes, don't you know?"
– "Ahh. Izzat so?"
– "I mean, I don't really see why. I think a fox would make… a lovely… friend…"
For no reason whatsoever, Merry cut herself short and burst into a fit of laughter.
– "…!?"
The laughter was contagious and, in equal ignorant bliss, Renko soon began laughing together with her, almost to the point of tears.
To any passersby, their dazzling smiles may have easily let them pass for tanuki.
