Hello everyone…Am I in trouble…?
Please accept my deepest apologies for the lack of updates…It's been over a month since I posted anything on this site, and even longer since I posted the previous chapter of Shades of Grey. I hadn't forgotten about this story, it was quite the opposite. For weeks, I've worried about my lack of posting. Please forgive this lousy author!
Special thanks to: Broken Vows (a lovely review, and yes, Muu-Chan is fine!), yaoigypsie, SandmanAndKitsune (your question was bothering me too, but his job is now revealed this chapter!), Rangerette, chibiazn3 (the mystery continues, I wish I knew where it's headed!), MintyFlake, GreyLiliy (your prediction was almost spot on. Sorry about Raikou…he wasn't co-operating for this installment), Goku-chan (you're the best, don't die little monkey!), NinetailsKyuu9 (awh, thank-you), Silent Sinner Abella, kingleby, DrakenD4 (I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!), amano (an OC is a character created by the author, also known as 'original character' or 'own character'), kunitsu (you'll be glad at the lack of Raikou, I suppose…), ShinigamixGirl (I used to update okay…however, I too would like to see more Tactics story updates…), wind-master-redmoon (perhaps you'll like chapter ten better, if you'd like to see Kan-Chan's powers…hmm…), Gold Silk (did you get around to watching Tactics again?), Akira Ijyuin (no, please tell me, what am I doing? I really don't know!), and takara94 for being wonderful reviewers!
Dedicated to: Broken Vows. Your reviews make me smile. I hope you didn't miss too much of that study session…
Disclaimer: I do not own Tactics. I'm presuming everyone here knows it's a series collaborated by Sakura Kinoshita and Kazuko Higashiyama, so please don't sue me! I'm not making any profits here!
Warning: Master/Slave relationships.
Chapter Nine
Haruka tapped three more beads on his abacus to the left, making notes as he counted. Keeping track of the tax increases and past payments of the townsfolk wasn't an easy job. It required patience, an abundance of time and good numerical skills. Haruka, however, had years of experience with money and book-keeping, and was therefore a popular accountant.
Another red book was closed and put onto a pile. The tengu licked the end of his quill before dipping it back into the inkpot. The instrument scratched across another page of figures and dates. Haruka hadn't stopped working since he'd entered his office. It had been a rather busy month, but the tengu had almost abandoned his duties since the arrival of Sugino, Muu-Chan, and of-course, Kantarou.
Haruka smiled. He'd sent Hito to remind Youko and Kantarou that he wanted to see the silver-haired human in his office. In just over half-an-hour, the boy would be there, his inquisitive red eyes glaring at Haruka. The demon eater rubbed his hands together. He felt strangely anxious.
'Kentaro's behaviour is one thing, but I can't stop thinking about that book, either.' Haruka sighed. 'Something about that picture is still bothering me. Why do I even have it? Who drew it? The only explanation I can think of is ridiculous…but…' Shaking his head to remove the dark bangs over his eyes, Haruka began straightening out a pile of white papers, before picking up his quill and resuming his work.
---
Youko stopped scrubbing when she heard a strange noise coming from around the corner. After a slight pause, another identical noise followed it.
Picking up her bucket and dumping the rag into it, she poked her head around the corner.
"Kan-Chan?" The youkai frowned, watching the human tackle the top of the ornament cabinet on a ladder, a yellow feather duster in one hand. He closed his eyes, opened his mouth, and made another noise, his body shaking with the force. He removed his hand from over his mouth and groaned.
"…I'm sorry; Youko-Chan…this dust is making me sneeze…" Kantarou climbed down the ladder. "When do we get a break?"
Youko laughed, patting Kantarou's back affectionately. "You've been asking me that since we started Kan-Chan!"
"I know, I know. This cleaning…it's really boring, isn't it?" Kantarou frowned, leaning against the wall whilst stretching out his tired legs.
"Oh, I don't mind. I enjoy it really. But I've been doing this kind of work for a long time, so I'm not as affected by the hours or the dust anymore."
"But I made you work twice as hard today…I apologize, Youko-Chan. I'm not used to working like this…" Kantarou sighed, sinking closer to the floor.
"No, no." Youko smiled. Kantarou's first attempt at chores hadn't gone so well. He'd managed to knock over a pail of soapy water, all over Haruka's wooden floor and Youko. The fox youkai had immediately started to mop it up, frantically barking orders to Kantarou, who had some how escaped a soaking himself. Then, after the kitchen floor had been brushed and mopped, Youko had taken Kantarou into the grand hall to start work on the oak cabinet. The crystal figure of a crying youkai maiden had almost met certain death when the clumsy human reached over the ornaments to clean up a patch of newly settled dust. He'd been restricted to cleaning the outside of the cabinet, to prevent any more narrow escapes.
It didn't take Kantarou long to realize that cleaning took at lot of time and energy. In all honesty, it bored him silly and he hadn't had one glance of Haruka since they'd started work.
"Is it nearly six yet?" Kantarou asked innocently.
"You plan to escape my clutches and run to Master, don't you Kan-Chan." Youko giggled. "Will I be the 'bad guy' forcing little Kantarou to work, whilst Master plays the 'good guy' who rescues you from any type of manual labour?"
The pair burst out laughing, failing to notice Hito approaching them from the other end of the hall.
"Something like that." Kantarou grinned, wiping his brow.
"Maybe we should consider another possible job for you…we can't risk any damages to Lord Haruka's things…" Youko stated, taking the duster out of Kantarou's hand. "You're such a klutz, Kan-Chan."
"...I…"
"But, I'm still proud, Kan-Chan. I know you tried hard today. Tomorrow, we'll tackle a different household chore, one that might work out better for you…"
"Thanks Youko-Chan." Relieved, Kantarou finally noticed the smaller youkai heading towards them. "Good afternoon, Hito-san."
"Good afternoon Kantarou, Youko." The one-eyed demon smiled. "I'm here to relay a message from Master. Kantarou, he would like to see you in his office on time. He would like you to bring all your new clothes with you."
"Oh. Alright…thanks Hito." Kantarou bowed.
"No need for that." Hito laughed, "Were you busy working?"
"Yes, I was showing our Kan-Chan the ropes. He still has a long way to climb, though." Youko grinned, slinging an arm around the human's shoulders.
"Are humans quick learners, if you pardon me asking, Kantarou…?" Hito asked with curiosity.
"It depends on the type of person and the task at hand. I'm not very good at chores…I've never cleaned on such a grand scale before. And, to be honest, I had…" Trailing off, Kantarou simply sighed. "I used to be good at writing, though…"
"Writing? Like stories, Kan-Chan?" Youko asked. Both youkai were suddenly interested to learn more about their human associate.
"It was…folklore, nothing that special. It's just an interest I've had since I was young…but, it was something I was good at. Humans know very little about the livelihood of demons. They selfishly choose to believe that all youkai are bad, just because as humans, we live under their rule. The divide between humans and demons is deeper than a simple national hatred. It goes back centuries…"
"Wow, Kantarou…" Hito breathed deeply. "You talk about it with such passion…"
"…Hmm…" Youko thought for a moment. "We don't have many good writers here…maybe a secretarial job would be better for you. Although, that's for Lord Haruka to decide. I'm just the Head maid. It doesn't concern me or Hito…"
"A secretary…for Master? Well I never…" Hito gasped. "I wonder what he would say?"
"But Master works so hard! All that number crunching and form filling…it isn't my place to say, but I'm sure he could use a hand…" Youko argued, her hands wringing the dust cloth.
"I should get going, Youko-Chan…" Kantarou realized. It couldn't be far off six o'clock now. "I still need to get my new clothes."
"Oh, yes, of-course. Hito, would you accompany Kan-Chan please? I'd come too, but I've still got a lot to finish up before my shift is up…"
"Certainly. We wouldn't want you to get into trouble with Master, Youko." Hito nodded to Kan-Chan. "Let's go."
"Thanks for helping me, Youko-Chan!" The human bowed. He felt it was necessary to show his respect for a colleague of a higher position, even if she was a close friend. As the newest slave, Kantarou had the lowest status, and therefore had to treat everyone around him with respect.
The fox youkai laughed. "See you later Kan-Chan."
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"Would you like some help, Kantarou?" Hito asked, watching the human struggling to hold all his outfits at once. They were all packaged in clear, see-through material, but that didn't make it much easier to hold them all at once.
"No, no, I've got it…" Kantarou mumbled; only his hair and eyes were visible, peeping over the mound of clothes in his arms.
"Now, now…" The little youkai chuckled, reaching up to tug at a package. "Let me take the blue one..."
Kantarou put the clothes down onto his bed and studied them. Two of the clothes were a darker grey than the thicker one, but he couldn't quite remember what the Tailor had said.
'Was it two grey coats or two blue coats?' Kantarou panicked. 'No, wait, the robe was grey…I think…'
"Alright, you can carry that one." The human smiled, passing one of the coats to Hito.
"Kantarou, that's one of your grey work clothes…" The goblin frowned. "The robe is the blue one…"
"Oh, right, yes…I'm sorry, Hito…" Kantarou flushed a little, passing the thicker robe to the youkai.
"…Are you feeling okay, Kantarou? Maybe you're just tired after working with Youko?"
"…Yeah…that must be it…" Kantarou sighed. 'I've got to be more careful…'
"Here, I'll take a coat and the robe. The kimono will be heavy." Hito said, taking the clothes from the bed.
Kantarou followed the shorter slave out of his room and down the hallway. Hito used the time to talk about his knowledge of folklore. Kantarou, half-listening, wondered what Haruka would say to him.
'Will the meeting just be about my new clothes and work…? Or will he bring Kentaro up again….?'
"You know, according to Lord Sugino, the word 'oni' is sometimes speculated to be derived from 'on', the on'yomi reading of the character 'to hide' or 'conceal'. To humans, all kinds of demons are said to be bad luck, and…Kantarou…are you even listening?"
"Yes…I am. Did Lord Sugino talk about the various forms youkai could take? Some demons are invisible to the human eye…"
"That's right!" Hito smiled. "I have a few friends who have that kind of form. It's a shame you wouldn't be able to see them, Kantarou. I'm sure you would get along with them."
"Oh, I would be able to see them." Kantarou smiled, not really thinking as he said it.
"What? But, Kantarou…"
The human smiled, his red eyes shining. "I'm…special…"
"Is it your…eyes, Kantarou? Such a strange colour, even for a demon…"
"Can I trust you, Hito-san?" Kantarou whispered as the pair climbed the stairs, walking in unison.
"…Of-course…"
"And Youko-Chan, too?"
"You know how loyal a fox demon is, don't you?" Hito frowned. "She may seem the type that loves to share secrets, but I have great faith in Youko. I'm surprised you question her trust…"
"Then, you don't mind waiting a little longer for me, do you?" Kantarou asked, his eyes fixed on the door leading to Haruka's office. "It isn't time yet…"
"Kantarou…"
"Well, here we are. Thank-you for all your help, Hito… And for listening."
The human took the clothes from the youkai. Once his arms were free, Hito knocked on Haruka's door.
"Yes?"
"Master, Kantarou is here."
"Open the door. You may enter, Kantarou." The tengu replied, sitting cross-legged on his armchair. "Hito, please return to you duties."
"As you wish, Master." Hito bowed in the hallway, disappearing from view as the door closed behind the human boy.
"Good afternoon Kantarou." The tengu addressed his slave. "Please sit down."
"Thank-you Master." Kantarou sat on the chair opposite the demon eater.
"Let me see your clothes." Kantarou passed all the packages to Haruka. "Now, these two grey coats are standard working outfits. You must wash them and dry them frequently. The blue robe is for when it is colder, or if you are working outdoors. Underwear will be provided in your bedroom drawer. Youko will have put it away by the time you return. The white kimono is for special occasions and trips into town. Is that clear?"
"Yes Master. Thank-you for your generosity."
The tengu smiled, pushing his hair out of his face. The shadow from the tall, thin, empty china vase sat on the chair-side table darkened half of Haruka's face, and turned his eyes a darker shade of green, although Kantarou could only guess the colour.
"There was another reason I asked you to see me, Kantarou." Haruka's smile disappeared. He stood up and walked over to his desk.
"Master?"
"I'm starting to believe there's a particular reason I brought you home with me. It wasn't out of pity, nor was it because I needed another slave. It wasn't even because you were human. You caught my eye, Kantarou. You were interesting. But, it's more than that. Answer me truthfully, Kantarou." Haruka took his letter opener into his hand and came to stand next to Kantarou. Crouching to his slave's level, the sharp tool dangerously close to the human's pale skin, Haruka stared into blood red orbs. "Do you feel it too? Our meeting was no chance, Kantarou Ichinomiya."
"…I believe its fate, Master…" Kantarou whispered.
"And I believe you had something to do with it." Haruka drew away, sitting back down and playing with the letter opener. Kantarou watched as slender fingers twirled the object, escaping injury.
"…" Kantarou waited for Haruka's explanation. 'I want to see into your mind, Haruka. What is it that you remember?'
"Kantarou…" Haruka's voice seemed strangely quiet. His tone was soft and inquisitive. "Have we met before…?"
Tbc…
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Sooo…what is Haruka on about? I'm afraid you'll have to wait for chapter ten to find out! The original chapter nine added Kantarou's reply onto it, but I revised it, thinking this added more suspense. Was I wrong?
The 'on'yomi reading' is the Sino-Japanese reading – a Japanese approximation of the Chinese pronunciation - of the character at the time it was introduced into the language.
I post-poned Lord Raikou's return, but he will have an important appearance soon enough. And Kaworu will be joining us again in chapter ten. Sugino and Muu-Chan should re-appear sometime in the future.
Thanks for reading, and once again, I apologize for being a lousy author.
Minako Angel xxx
