If you are liking the story so far, please send in a review!
Mirii left her mouth open: she quickly transform into a brighten smile, as her irises turned over Mr. Guile's car.
"I hope you are joking…!" Her left hand touches her forehead, which was warm. "I never heard a restriction that stupid!" She frowns a bit.
"Tsk!" The guardian's left hand landed on the handle. "For insulting our Shrine's wise laws, you granted me the power to even block you"
"I'M SORRY, OK?!" The woman bites her own lips, as sweat jumps out from her forehead. "I-I usually call things stupid, bu-but usually I don't really mean that the thing is truly stupid! Just that it's stupid how the thing is"
"Alright, alright."
SHIIING!
The man holds his katana in his left hand, as his face expression got neutral.
"Enough words! It's time to reveal the truth once and for all!" His right hand took the handle as well, putting the weapon in a sideway position. "Are you Squids or are you Yokai?!"
"They are kids!" Mr. Guile chuckled, as he holds a white stick between his teeth. "And I have some darn proof. Mostly… Spring Season!"
The man's irises shrunk, as he immediately lowers his katana, holding it with just his left hand.
"You… how did you know?!" His left foot stepped backwards.
"Huh?" Tonna turns behind, seeing Mr. Guile's grin. "What did you say again? Spring Season?"
"Password of the day, chick." His left hand took off the white stick, throwing it on the road. "That guy ya are talking to, must be a newbie at this job."
Mirii expands her eyes, as she immediately turns her head over the man: his head kept turning left and right, as he keeps moving in place.
"How?! How did he know?! I-I don't sense any kind spirit or"
"Hey hey, kid." The man shrugs. "Don't ya think too much about that thingamajig you call Examine. That ain't gonna work on a road rider."
Everyone's eyes were staring at Mr. Guile: he kept smiling, as he pulled out a small bottle with clear liquid inside and a tag reading "Fresh waters".
"… who are you?" The guardian puts his katana back inside its sheath. "Your knowledge is truly suspicious."
"Guile is the name. Road is my game." He spins the bottle's cap with his right fingers. "But that's all ya get. Unfortunately, I kinda have to disappear for a while…"
His mouth took the bottle, drinking a bit of water.
"Aaaah!" He respins the bottle's cap, in the opposite direction, while shaking his head once. "The car is hungry for road and I'm done with the waiting game."
His eyes fell on Mirii's bag.
"Although… before ya make the kids pass, would you check that bag for a moment?"
Suddenly, Mirii's mouth blocked a very loud gasp right on her throat. She stumbled, as her irises shrunk. The man winked on the girl.
"Well… off I go! See ya later, alligator!"
Chuckling, he jumped back on the driving seat, as he presses the accelerator. The car proceeded through the fog, while following the road. Mirii was standing still, as the wind was caressing her face.
"Ahem."
The girl twisted behind, seeing the guardian with his eyes on hers. His arms were folded.
"Looks like you aren't a demon after all…" He inhales loudly with his nose.
Mirii opened her mouth, as a squeaky voice came out: she recloses it, expanding her eyes even more. Sweat was coming down rapidly.
"… and so isn't that woman." His head turns on Tonna.
The woman kept looking at Mirii: her face got darker. The girl's irises kept looking Tonna, then retreating immediately towards a drenching bush.
"Mirii." She walks over the girl. "While you were coming to the Hot Baths, I had a little theory in mind…"
Mirii's irises stood right on the woman, as her legs moved backwards.
"I hope I was incredibly wrong, Mirii… because if I wasn't…" Her face got even darker.
"W-wait just a moment!" Her eyebrows rose, her right forefinger pointed on the woman. "I-I know that Agents can't check in other Agents or even Rangers' bags without a valid, reasonable motivation!"
The woman stopped: she was clenching her fists. The girl trembled. The man laughed: both the female Inklings turned over his face, which was showing a large grin.
"For being a Squid from the sweeter waters, you sure know how to swim out of trouble!" He closes his mouth, keeping his smile. "But the Shrine has no place for skilled, yet mischievous Squids. Until you agree to open that bag, you two are invited to walk away and get lost in our Forest of Meditation."
Mirii snarled, only to be interrupted by a louder snarl, coming from Tonna. Jerkily, the girl twisted her head over the woman: she felt shrinking rapidly.
"Mirii… open that bag…"
Tonna's face was so dark, the girl couldn't even see her eyes!
"Tonna, listen"
"I said… open that turfing bag, Mirii…" Even her voice got darker! "Don't make me repeat that, once more…"
Mirii closes her eyes, trembling a lot. She swallowed multiple times, as tears were forming around her eyes. Her arms jerkily pulled out the bag from her shoulders, as her hands took a strap each. Her eyes fell on the opened bag, as she could track her accessories.
Suddenly, her eyes expanded and her mouth sealed. Tonna bends forward, as her eyes searched throughout Mirii's bag.
"Huh? A smartphone… a towel… huh?" Her eyes looked the girl again. "What's the meaning of this, Mirii?"
"Th-the meaning?!" Her open mouth waved.
"Yeah." Tonna lifts her posture, as her wrists were on her hips. "Why are you worrying so much for your bag? I seriously thought you were hiding something… or should I have said someone." Her left eyebrow rose.
Mirii stood more still, as her arms were glued on her sides.
"Nonsense! Absolutely nonsense!" Her right cheek twitched. "I-I'm always worried when an authority must check my bag, because… because I always fear to present my items in a dishonorable state! Th-that would utterly destroy my perfect reputation, which I still keep it at high levels even to this day!"
A breeze passed around, as the rain was holding a concert of sounds.
"Mirii…" Tonna sighed. "I know I shouldn't say this, but… I'd never imagine seeing you having such gimmick in your mind." She shakes her head slowly. "I mean, I understand you have to keep your things in order… but don't you think this is a little excessive?! I would revise that behavior if I was in you…"
The woman turns over the guardian, as she throws in a smile. Mirii mumbled something, as she frowns a lot, while a vein popped out from her forehead.
"Well, there is nothing in the bag! Can you let us"
"WHO SAID YOU WERE THE ONE CHECKING THE BAG?!" The guardian runs over Mirii, which was still holding the bag. "You Squids from the sweeter waters should really need to follow the Shrine's training…"
He kept mumbling, as his hands took the bag in a quick grab, while taking out all the items and putting them on the floor. Mirii opened her mouth, as her eyebrows rose and her eyes were seeing the towel on the stone pavement.
Her face turned quickly into a frown, as smoke came out from her ears. The man retook all the item, throwing them inside the bag and picked it up with his left hand.
"Nothing suspicious is found!" He threw the bag towards Mirii.
She catches it with both her hands, letting out a loud gasp.
"You can both enter inside this Shrine!" The man walks towards the door. "However, I have to report your status… that's for the woman."
"NO!" Her hands fell on her cheeks, as she sprints over the guardian. "PLEASE, NO!" She falls on her cheeks, as her hands are clasped. "I'm begging you! Let me in the Hot Baths!"
Mirii walked towards the door, as her eyes were on the other two Inklings. The man shook his head.
"I'm afraid you must first take another bath, before attempting the main one."
The girl stood on her left leg, as her right one was still in the air: her eyes were now on the man, as her irises shrunk.
"… another bath?" Tonna's head tilted to the right.
"Yes." He nods, keeping his eyes closed. "People who are under stress can't access inside the Hot Baths, because their bad temper could affect the nice waters who heal the mortals. For those people who are dominated by stress, they must regenerate for 30 minutes inside another bath known as The Bath of Liberation."
"Ah… well…" Tonna smiles. "I thought you'd kick me out! If I have to take another bath, just to get into the regular one… sweet!" She stands up. "Like, I can't wait for that! Either way, I just needed some deserved bath of hot water!"
Her eyes closed, as she sees herself with her body inside hot water and a towel standing on her head: her eyes were closed and her smiling mouth was left open. She sighs loudly.
"Actually, The Bath of Liberation is another kind of bath…"
Tonna's eyes opened, while growing.
"… what? Another kind…?" Her irises moved down to the guardian.
"Yes." His hands are on his back. "This bath uses the water coming from the sacred mountain known as Mountain Tsumetaidesu, which healing powers can calm the shortest of tempers. The mountain is always covered in snow and no mortals could stand anywhere near the top, not even for 2 hours."
Her irises shrunk, her jaw dropped.
"Are you saying that this bath has cold water…?"
The man laughed loudly.
"Cold?! What are you saying?!" He grins. "That's not cold at all…"
"Really?!" Her eyes sparkled, her smile was formed.
"Really… it's water that's about to turn into ice!" He grins even more.
"WHAT?!" Her eyes almost pop out. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
"Eh eh…" He lowers his eyelids. "Whenever a student from the Shrine shows signs of stress, he would have to take the bath for almost an hour. It happened to an amateur: he came back in a bluer skin, as he couldn't stop shivering! Not even during the Hot Baths break!"
Tonna's face got incredibly paler.
"Luckily, you only have to endure 30 minutes… but I'm sure you'll not forget this experience." He chuckles behind his teeth. "Can't wait to hear your cool experiences, after you have done with your shivering bath!"
He laughed even louder, as he turned behind and pushed the door loudly. Tonna stood there, with her skin changing into a bluer tone. Mirii kept looking left and right, seeing bushes and the fog around the Shrine.