Nathanael woke up to hear the sound of birds chirping outside his window. Slowly and reluctantly, he uncovered his face from the blankets. Then he blinked, closed his eyes, and blinked again. The memories of yesterday still heavy on his mind.
Streaks of sunlight penetrate the window and blind him. He sits up, drag his feet off the bed, and rub's his knuckles onto his eyes. He then stretches his arms above his head and yawns. He soon gets up from the bed and quickly changes into a grey t-shirt with a skull design and a pair of black jeans. He puts on his grey high-tops and heads down to the kitchen
Down in the Kitchen Nooroo greets him cheerfully. "Good Morning, Lord Nathanael, I hope you slept well," he says.
Nathanael gave a half-smile "Yes, I did" but that was a lie. He sat down at the table as Nooroo swiftly brought over a plate of cinnamon pancakes, Nathanael's favourite.
As Nathanael bit into one, his eyes grew hazy as he went far into his thoughts. It had taken him ages to fall asleep last night and it was all because of these strange emotions that he was starting to feel.
'I don't know what's wrong with me…maybe I'm getting a fever of some sort…can humans even get the same illness as a yokai?… I should ask Lila' He finished off his breakfast and thanked Nooroo for the meal then went rushing off to find the Kitsune.
He heard Lila's voice and followed it to the outdoor patio. He stopped in his tracks as he observed Lila peacefully feeding the birds outside with Duusu helping. She had cut her hair back to its usual knee length and had it tied up in its usual style. A bird landed on Lila's outstretched hand nibbling on seeds as Lila stroked its head and smiled softly.
Nathanael's heartbeat quickened and he felt his face grow warm as it turned red. Lila then noticed him. She smiled "Good Morning, Nathanael" His face grew hotter.
She raised an eyebrow "Are you okay, Nathanael? Your face is quite red"
Nathanael stiffened and looked away from her gaze "Shut up! No, it's not!" he shrieked, grabbing a wooden pail bucket and flinging it at her. Lila dodged it and watched Nathanael run off, concern in her eyes.
Nathanael ran inside and slumped against a wall, panting a little, he pressed a hand to his chest eyes growing wide. "What the hell is wrong with me?" he bit his lip as his face cooled down and his heart rate slowly returned to normal 'Do I…No, don't be ridiculous Nathanael…I would never…it's probably just some weird yokai fever…yes, that's it'
"Nathanael?"
His body froze as he heard Lila calling him. 'Okay, stop being so weird…it's not like I have a reason to be acting so strange around her' He took a deep breath calming himself. Then he stepped out from behind the wall.
Lila spotted him and smiled. Nathanael felt his cheeks turn pink.
"There you are, you rushed off before I could give you this" she held out a letter.
Nathanael raised an eyebrow, his curiosity making him forget about his strange behaviour. "What is it?" he asked taking it from her grasp.
"It is a letter," Lila says simply.
Nathanael pouted "I know that I meant who sent it"
"Oh, you should be more specific," Lila said "It is from a close friend of Rose's and it is addressed to you so I did not open it to find out any other information"
"Okay, I better open it then," Nathanael said and he opened the envelope rather messily as it tore straight down. He could feel Lila's glare already.
He gave anxious laugh "The card thing inside is alright that's all that matters" Lila rolled her eyes at his words. He took out the white card with golden lines around it.
Before he could read it Lila snatched it out of his hands "Oi!" he cried.
Lila glared at him "I will read it!"
"It's addressed to me!" Nathanael yelled.
"And I am your familiar so I will read it as that is one of my jobs" Lila smirked.
Nathanael frowned "You're such a liar, you're just nosy"
Lila laughed and then began to read out loud: "Princess Mylene invites Lord Nathanael and his Familiar Lady Lila to a grand party…" Lila stopped reading and let out an annoyed groan "I don't think it's a good idea to go!" she gave the invite back to Nathanael.
He frowned "Why not?"
"Cause' Rose made us go every time and they're so annoying!" Lila whined.
Nathanael smirked, "But you said that Princess Mylene and Lady Rose had a good relationship and you don't want anybody ruining that, right?" Nathanael smiled "Then we're going"
"Wait, what?" Lila exclaimed, eyes rounding.
"We don't want to offend such a good friend of Lady Rose's now do we?" Nathanael smirked.
Lila narrowed her eyes knowing he was saying something she had to agree with on purpose. "No" she hissed.
He grinned "Good and who knows maybe this will help me learn more about caring for the shrine"
Lila frowned "I highly doubt it, now are you ready to go"
Nathanael raised an eyebrow "We just got the invite why would we go now?"
"As usual Princess Mylene's servants must have forgotten to send the invites till last minute and the event is starting anytime soon," Lila said.
Nathanael looked at the invite "you're right" he says.
Lila nodded "Let's go we can take the portal seeing as the night fog carriage only works in the night" she started to walk in the direction of outside. Nathanael followed her.
They came to the large stone arch in the bottom of the outdoor area and the Spirits flew to their sides and like the first time they had brought Nathanael to it they went on either side and glowed their signature colours releasing a bright light that made both Lila and Nathanael shield their eyes.
Once he removed his hand from his eyes Nathanael saw a portal had opened like last time.
"How come we have to use the portal?" he questioned.
"That is because the swamp is sort of located on a dividing line between the world over yonder and the human world, " Duusu said
"And this ensures you get there faster," Nooroo said.
Lila sniffed "Exactly" she started to walk to the portal "C'mon let's get this over with"
Nathanael nodded and they stepped through the portal together. They came out into the darkness.
Nathanael let out a shriek "L-Lila!"
He heard the kitsune laugh and then a low Light filled the area. Nathanael blinked and turned to see Lila holding a glowing lantern. His face coloured red. Now he could see they were in a mossy land.
Lila smirked "Don't worry no monsters will get you" she started to walk ahead.
Nathanael followed slowly behind 'Way to go…I don't usually care what she thinks of me…why do I care so much now?' he sighed loudly.
Lila glanced over her shoulder at Nathanael "Is everything okay?"
Nathanael' eyes widened "Y-yeah, why wouldn't it be?" he laughed anxiously, rubbing the back of his neck as his face turned red.
Lila raised an eyebrow at his strange behaviour "You-actually never mind…" she turned and continued walking ahead. Nathanael picked up his speed and came to walk beside her. He found himself glancing at her at every few seconds.
Her green eyes seemed to sparkle more in the reflection of the lanterns light. 'She's actually really pretty…wait…why the hell am I thinking such weird thoughts!' His face flushed and he looked away from the kitsune. After a while, he sighed and glanced at her again.
"Why do you keep looking at me?" Lila asked, still staring ahead as they continued their walk down the long corridor.
Nathanael's face turned redder than his hair and he began to stutter: "Lo-looking a-at you, N-no I-I wasn't" he forced a laugh "D-don't be silly, I-I was just um…In thought, Yes, I was lost in thought!" he lied, an obvious fake smile on his face.
Lila looked at him with wide eyes filled with confusion and concern then she lightly shook her head and sighed "Then please tell me what you were thinking so hard about"
Nathanael blanched and looked to the ground "Uh I was…um…I was thinking about…uh…Princess Mylene and Ivan, I was wondering if they had gotten any closer" he smiled.
Lila rolled her eyes and scoffed "How can a cat-fish princess become close to a human, they are doomed from the start"
Nathanael's eyes narrowed "How can you say that?"
Lila made no answer furthering Nathanael's annoyance.
"Lila, if we see Princess Mylene here today you are not to insult her about her relationship with Ivan, Okay," He said.
"I wasn't going to," Lila says, glancing at Nathanael "but aren't I allowed to think that a human and yokai together is an impossible love"
Nathanael frowned at her words. "What if you were to fall in love with a human…"
Lila glared at him causing the artist to go silent "I will never fall in love with a human" her voice was cold as she turned her gaze away from him and walked on.
Nathanael stopped walking, sadness clouded his features, he had no idea why her words made him feel so sad...or maybe he did.
Lila turned to look at him and sighed "Look at it this way, you wouldn't fall in love with a kitsune, would you?"
Nathanael blushed "O-of course not!" he exclaimed.
Lila smiled "See, that's what I meant, now c'mon we're reaching Princess Mylene's home" she walked ahead, leaving Nathanael to trail behind his expression dulled as he looked to the ground.
'I'm a fool' he thought.
They finally arrived in the swamp palace which was actually quite glorious and you wouldn't believe you were in a swamp.
"Lord Nathanael you came"
He turned and a smile brightened his face when he saw Princess Mylene standing before him. She was wearing a brightly coloured jūnihitoe and had her hair down with a large decorative golden hair-clip in place of a tiara. Nathanael also noticed she was still in the human girl form that Lila had helped her transform into with the use of magic.
"Princess Mylene, it is nice to see you again!" Nathanael says.
Mylene smiled and nodded her head "Likewise"
"I hope you don't mind me asking but why do you still look like a human?" Lila asked. Nathanael looked and could see a small frown appearing on her face. He pouted.
Mylene's cheeks turned pink and she placed her hands on them "I have promised to meet my sweet Ivan again so I am maintaining Lady Lila's transformation spell"
"That's wonderful to hear," Nathanael said.
Mylene smiled "Yes, now let us go somewhere to talk and catch up on important news" she turned and started to walk, her two ladies in waiting following behind.
They came into a large room that had large white pillars up to the roof and also a large sparkling chandelier hanging from the roof. On the floor dotted about the room were large vases of different flowering buds that created a sweet fragrance. Round tables stacked with pastries and sweets as well as large pots of tea sat on them.
Nathanael looked around and could see other God's, goddesses and yokai's around the place, talking and eating. He felt a little anxious. He didn't know anyone apart from Lila and Princess Mylene.
'What if this was a bad idea, I'm not a proper God…they'll think me rude and insulting saying I'm a God cause I'm not. I'm just a human that somehow got the responsibility of caring for Mikage Shrine'
Nathanael and Lila started to follow Mylene to a table down the back of the room. As they walked through the crowds Nathanael noticed how everyone seemed dressed up in decorative formal wear. Nathanael felt out of place in just a t-shirt and jeans. His face turned red as he felt their stares burning into him.
"Is that the new-land god for mikage shrine?" he heard someone whisper.
"It really is a human, I honestly thought that was a lie" another voice loudly whispered.
Nathanael felt like turning and running away when he heard someone say "He's quite plain, isn't he? not at all God-like", he squeezed his eyes shut and tried not to cry, that would only give them more reason to whisper and laugh.
Lila noticed that Nathanael was greatly upset by the whispers and reached out a hand placing it gently on his shoulder, he opened his eyes and looked at her with round twinkling eyes, his cheeks turned a little pink but Lila had no idea why. She opened her mouth to say something but before she even had the chance to speak, shouts filled the air.
"Lila!" a boy's voice shouted, "You look more beautiful than the last time we met!"
Lila's eyes widened in horror but before she could make a run for it she was grabbed in a hug by a golden-haired kitsune boy.
Nathanael's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the male kitsune. He had short golden-blonde hair with two fox ears sticking up, an olive skin tone similar to Lila's and sharp brown eyes which now looked to Nathanael with a suspicious glare.
"Lila, whoever is this plain looking boy with you?" he asked.
Lila grabbed the kitsune-boy's arms and pushed him off her "That is Nathanael, the new land God of mikage shrine and my lord and master"
His brown eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he looked at Nathanael. "He's…no matter, that doesn't matter right now, we haven't seen each other in such a long time, Lila"
Lila laughed anxiously "Yeah it's been a few decades…" then she whispered "almost like I've been avoiding you" no one heard the last part as she quickly faked a smile.
Nathanael glanced between the two kitsune's, his eyebrows furrowing as his mouth set in a hard line.
"We have so much to catch up on," the kitsune boy said. He looked to Nathanael "I hope you don't mind if I take Lila away for a while"
Nathanael didn't notice Lila's face twist into a look of dread as he faked a bright expression "No, I don't mind at all" he lied "Take her with you"
He looked to the ground and didn't catch Lila shoot him a venomous glare as she was pulled off by the golden-haired kitsune.
'A gorgeous palace…beautiful god's and yokai…this is the world Lila belongs to, not me…she would rather prefer to be with her own kind than-than be with me' Nathanael sniffed and could feel tears well in his eyes.
Then a hand came to rest on his arm "Nathanael, is something wrong?"
He quickly blinked back tears and looked to see Princess Mylene look at him with wide eyes filled with concern.
"Everything is fine" he smiled.
Mylene tilted her head "Are you feeling sad because Lady Lila when off with that Kitsune boy?"
Nathanael's face flushed "N-no, of course not!" he exclaimed.
Mylene smiled knowingly "Do not worry, Nathanael, if myself and Ivan can work things out then I'm sure there is hope for you and Lady Lila"
"No, you've got it wrong I don't like Lila like that!" Nathanael said. He bit his lip 'I don't like Lila…but I wonder why today I'm really acting strange'
"Lord Nathanael, I may not know much but I know that it would be wrong if you did not try, yes?" Mylene said, "Now I must return to my Ladies in waiting and Kim or they will worry" she giggled turning around and starting to walk away "I wish you luck" she called over her shoulder.
Nathanael looked in the direction Lila had gone with the other kitsune. 'I don't like Lila…' he thought as he started to walk in the same direction 'Then why am I going after her?'
"This is the fairy blossom tree, Lila, its petals glow even during the day!" The kitsune grinned.
Lila opened her fan hiding the bottom half of her face "Yes, it is quite beautiful, thank you for showing it to me, Ryan" her eyes darted about looking for a way to escape without being noticed.
'I can't believe Nathanael would sell me out like that, I bet he's laughing at my misery that annoying tomato!'
Then while Ryan's gaze was distracted Lila tried to slink away into the crowd but Ryan also having kitsune abilities sensed her leaving and turned quickly.
"Lila, where are you going?" he shouted.
She froze and cursed to herself. She closed her fan.
"Are you going back to that human?" Ryan asked, a slight growl in his voice.
Lila looked to him with a forced smile "Well, Yes I must make sure-"
Ryan's eyes narrowed "Lila, you do not need to worry about serving a human, why you could come and live with me"
Lila started to back away, her eyes widening in horror at his words "Well, I…"
"Lila!"
Lila turned and let out a relieved sigh to see Nathanael running up to her. He stopped short and looked between her and Ryan.
"Oh, Sorry am I interrupting something?" Nathanael asked, putting his hands together anxiously.
"No," Lila said at the same time Ryan growled "Yes"
Nathanael blinked and looked to Lila "Uh, I just came to ask, No well I guess to tell you something but it can wait…"
Lila noticed a pink blush appearing on his cheeks but decided to ignore that and took this as her chance to escape Ryan. "Of course it cannot wait, Lord Nathanael!" she said, rather dramatically. "Let us go and talk in private, Ryan does not mind!"
Nathanael's eyes widened as Lila grabbed his arm and swiftly pulled them through the crowds of the palace and out of Ryan's sight.
Finally, they came to an empty room and Lila shut the doors breathing a sigh.
"Lila…" Nathanael started but Lila started to speak over him.
"Thank goodness you finally came and got me, I swear if you had been a moment later that fox would have forced me into some weird marriage!" she started walking up and down the room.
"Lila"
"And it was a great idea of yours to act like you actually had something important to tell me!" she laughed "acting all nervous like that, I should give you more credit"
Nathanael went quiet and his eyes dulled. He sighed. 'I'm being ridiculous I just let Mylene and her weird idea's get into my head…I don't like Lila…I definitely don't like Lila and she…she definitely doesn't like me' Tears glistened in his eyes.
Lila finally looked to him and noticed his sadness "Nathanael?"
"Lila, I would like to go home now…I don't feel well" he says.
Lila frowned but nodded "Okay, let's go home"
They returned home and it was already approaching nightfall, so Nathanael muttered his excuse of not feeling well and went to his bedroom, leaving Lila to worry what was wrong with the red-haired boy.
Nathanael shut the door and collapsed on his bed. 'I'm being stupid…I know I'm being stupid…I just don't feel well that's all…I'll sleep this weird feeling off and everything will return to the way it should be'
