Chapter 2:
Lightly tapping the pencil tip on her desk, Ayaka's mind thoughtlessly wondered towards the window beside her seat.
It was such a good day outside and she was here stuck listening to her human teacher.
Boring... she sighed.
Chewing on the eraser of her pencil. Her thoughts were wandering back to the days when her mornings were training with Genkai, walking around the woods and idling in the grassland. Now she's here stuck listening to some human whose head was thinning out of hair. She just smirked at that thought.
"Ms. Kiei.!" The voice halted her from her daydreaming, bringing her back to the reality, her English class.
"Would you kindly read the selection we are talking about?" Mr. Kano called her attention. Mr. Kano was a middle aged man whose face is framed by his round spectacles. He was always strict in his class and Ayaka has always been a receiver of his ire.
Ayaka stood up startled by her professor. Kuso. Biting her lower lip. "uh—uhm.." she muttered.
Her professor raised his brow and eyed Ayaka. Ayaka then picked her textbook and scanned it. Demn. She cussed inside her head.
"I—uh.." she was about to start when she saw Fumika, her closest human friend, from the corner of her eye. She raised a small piece of white paper that looked like a sticky note. Written on it is the selection she is supposed to read. She then started to read the selection. After reading, she mouthed thank you to Fumika who just smirked without even looking at her.
Mr. Kano was pissed but let her seat anyways. The rest of the period was Mr. Kano eyeing Ayaka.
After English class, Ayaka immediately went to Fumika and hugged her tightly.
" . !" Thankfully squeezing the human for saving her sorry ass.
"Don't choke me, idiot!"Fumika replied, desperately catching for air. She playfully jabbed Ayaka in the shoulder and randomly gossiped, like the other girls in their class.
Fumika has short light lavender hair that was curled to her cheeks. She has a pair of light gray eyes that matches her fair skin tone. Like Ayaka, Fumika is on the petite side. Ayaka met Fumika just a few months ago, they immediately clicked as Fumika was not the typical human girl who only cared about Kurama. She was strong minded and independent. She lived alone as well, as her parents are abroad for work.
"So how's the prince?" Fumika grinned. Ayaka rolled her eyes and Fumika immediately knew what she meant by that. They both chuckled at the same time and talked quietly about how weird the senior girls are for always barging into Shuichi (Kurama) whenever he enters the school gates.
A loud buzzing sound echoed through out the hall and in the rooms. It was the school bell, signalling the start of next period.
After the last period…
"Ayaka, I'll be leaving first okay. I need to run an errand." Fumika bid her friend goodbye and immediately headed for the door, not waiting for Ayaka to respond.
Ayaka was still busy gathering her stuff, sorting out which ones will she leave inside her locker and those that she needs to bring home.
A few moments later...
"Ayaka." Kurama called to her.
"Yuh?" She spun her head towards the familiar voice. There he was, all in his gloriousness, NOT! She smirked in her head. Kurama stood near the classroom door.
"You can go ahead today. I have to attend cram school." Kurama smiled. Oh that precious smile that every girl in the school falls for. Ayaka always wonder what those humans see in Kurama. Yea, he's good looking but he's rather odd and quiet and she just can't seem to figure out why girls would dive in front of him. She shuddered at that thought.
"Cram school? Really?" She questioned, raising a brow. This all knowing still needs to attend cram school. Not only is Kurama good looking but the fox is quite the achiever as well. He's been the top of his class ever since and a few had yet to attempt to dethrone him.
"Yeah. Sorry you have to walk alone tonight." He apologetically said.
Ayaka bursted into laughters. "hahahha! You serious fox? Ahahhaha!" she said while gasping for air.
Kurama just sighed and smiled while raising a brow to Ayaka. Shaking his head, a vein popping near his temples. Ayaka was now finished packing and headed for Kurama.
"You don't need to concern yourself over me. I can definitely walk myself home." She patted Kurama's shoulder while passing by his side. "Ja. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Take care Ayaka." Kurama called behind her. Ayaka stopped in her tracks and looked back towards Kurama.
"Yes?" The fox answered, already anticipating an insult.
"Tell your mom to get well soon okay?" Ayaka cheered.
Kurama for a moment was taken aback but then smiled to show reassurance. His mother is in the hospital for quite some time now fighting a disease that is slowly deteriorating her. Though Kurama is not biologically attached to the human, he felt guilty blaming himself that he might have caused the disease during the time he invaded the human woman's body in order to save his injured Yoko form. Ayaka tried to offer healing his mother but to no avail, her powers wasn't strong enough to remove the disease but it did gave Kurama's mom strength to endure the pain everyday.
Ayaka smiled back and went on her way.
Kurama's smile disappeared as she watched Ayaka disappeared from his sight. He stood emotionlessly, eyes blank, his head replaying over and over again their plan tonight. Carefully reviewing every step on how to steal the Forlorn Hope with two other treasures.
Ayaka''s POV
Psh. That fox thinking that I can't take care of myself. Nah.. but I can't really blame him.. Sighs.
The wind is kinda chilly today and the sun is setting now. Because Kurama isn't here with me, I decided to take a short cut through the woods just past by the creek. Usually on normal after school days and when Kurama is with me, we walk along the highway stopping by Kurama's house first and doing homework then he would walk me home. But lately he's been busy with "cram school" even though I doubt he needs that. He's been a little distant lately especially after class. I never got to ask him why but I think it's because of his mother. Although that idiot won't admit it, he cares for the human more than he actually thinks. And he's been on his toes for a while now as the dear woman isn't anywhere near to getting better. I offered to help her once in a while but Kurama said I'll have to slow down with the healing as this might trigger more issues with her deteriorating state.
As I entered the woods, a gust of wind welcomed me. Then, I wasn't alone anymore.
"Hello Ayaka." I just wanted to mentally facepalm myself when I saw who greeted me.
It was Arcinja and she was with her guardian Yue. She looks really pissed and you don't wanna know what happens when she's pissed. I still remembered what happened to the poor tree right beside the well of Genkai. Poor thing, now it's a bench in the garden.
Well, who is she by the way? She's a very powerful celestial being from the Heavenly Realm but seriously? It might take me years to explain what or who she is. Even I can't really understand that. But what I know is that she is the one that brought me to Genkai fifteen years ago. I know I'm not human, but I don't know what kind of demon I am either. Aside from Genkai and Kurama, Arcinja is the only person that knows my true identity.
"H-hi Hime-chan!" I smiled gleefully. Please be nice. Please be nice.
"Why are you alone?"She asked while raising a brow. Her voice sounded like a lullaby but not that kind that makes you fall asleep, more like the kind that sounds like death is coming.
You see, she's very moody and short tempered. I guess that's the consequence when you're burdened by so many responsibilities. As a celestial being, it is her task to oversee that everything between the realms is in order. Most of the time she's in a meeting with the Spirit Realm's king or visiting the activities of the Demon Realm. Both realms revere her greatly and her mere presence is either a problem or a blessing. And now I think it's a problem tonight.
"Uhm.. Kurama said he needed to go to cram school so I had to walk home alone..yea..that's why.." I rubbed the back of my head, remembering Kurama's exact reason as to why I had to go home alone tonight.
"And you believed him?" Squinting her eyes. Definitely a problem.
I just nodded slowly in response not wanting to piss her anymore. Less talk less mistake right?
Arcinja tilted her head to the right. Crystal blue eyes looking directly at mine. I had to admit those blue eyes are so dangerously beautiful. It's like blue crystals were placed in her eye sockets. I always had the feeling that they can see past through my whole personality. Genkai once told me that Arcinja has the ability to see beyond realms. She can see world to world and travel to space, time and dimension in a snap. Though she got accustomed in visiting Genkai who was her beloved mentor once when she was very young. If you look at Arcinja, she looks like a child but believe me or not, a celestial being lives beyond time. They don't age or change and can take any form they want.
"Yue, take Ayaka home. The forest is a dangerous path." She uttered. "I'll go by myself." Her words were more of a command rather of informing her guardian. You would definitely know that she is in charge.
Thank you Kami! I mentally sighed and cried. At least I won't have to be the one to deal with the princess' wrath.
With that her saying, she suddenly disappeared and Yue reappeared beside me. I got used to it. Her suddenly vanishing and leaving without a word. It means something piqued her interest which is a good thing coz I am saved.
I clutched the handle of my bag tightly and exhaled deeply. Good thing the princess left and I only have to deal with the quietness of Yue.
We were walking through the forest path and the sun started to set. It was still a bit of a walk towards the nearest station. I was going home to Genkai's dojo tonight and the air started to get chilly.
"Whew!" I sighed. "..thought it was another homily again for me." Trying to remember Arcinja's pissed face from awhile ago.
"So Yue, why are you here?" I asked the silver haired lad walking beside me. Yue is devilishly handsome I must say. With his 6 foot 4 tall frame and that slick silver hair that compliments his crystal blue eyes I could've fall for this man but sad to say he's not a man. Yue is a Guardian Spririt. A Moon Guardian to be exact. He only exists when the princess needs him. He mainly escorts the princess wherever she goes and protects her. As a Moon Guardian, he draws power from the moon, duh, obviously. And he is very very good with the protection thing. I don't know why Arcinja needs protection when she's powerful enough to destroy the realms.
"To walk you home Lady Ayaka." He answered bluntly in a very monotonous voice. I just felt my eyebrow twitched on that one. Damn guardian.
"Well, I didn't mean that.." Idiot. "You know the princess, she isn't the random visit type of girl." I tried to dig into the conversation.
Yue, not even moving his head, just look down on me through those crystal clear eyes and said: "I am not aware of any other purpose other than to walk you home Lady Ayaka."
Before I can even retort to that ridiculous answer, I felt a large surge of spirit energy deep into the forest in which for sure Yue felt as well as he is now in a protective stance in front of me with his right arm extended to shield me.
"W-what was that.." I nervously gulped. Something isn't definitely right. That energy outburst isn't ordinary.
"Lady Ayaka, it's best if we hurry now to Genkai-sama's temple." Yue sternly looked at me.
I just nodded in response and as if on cue he was about to carry me but I stepped back immediately and opposed to that idea. I am very much capable of myself. Thank you.
"Ah.. Yue, I can just hold into your cloak you know." Awkward.
He nodded and then I placed my left hand on his right arm. We disappeared right at that moment and re-appeared in Genkai's place. Being the powerful guardian he is, Yue can teleport anywhere as he pleases but the consequence of this was that demons can sense his aura and the possibility of tracking him increases. Good thing was that Genkai's place has a special spirit shield that repels demons as they near towards it. It confuses them into thinking that they are in the wrong place.
"Yue thanks for bringing me here. I know you're not supposed to use your powers here." I gently bowed as a gesture of my thanks. "Would you be leaving for the princess?"
"No Lady Ayaka. I think I must wait for her here as she is engaged in personal matter right now." He said while looking at some horizon like he was reading whatever it is that is in front of him. What a weirdo these beings are.
"Ah.. I see. Well then don't just stand there. Come inside, I'll make tea." I happily offered.
He courteously nodded his head and followed me inside. This will be quite a night.
^w^ Chapter 2 done!