My inheritance is wrong, as expected

by Nostrategy

Bits to a frame of a story about society and class. And a bit of magic. For Hachiman magic is needed to change his status in society.

2. 2) More bits to a posibel story

A normal day at the Service Club
It was nice, that some kind of peace was back in the club. Reading a book, the chitchat of Yui and the scent of tea filling the room. That was relaxing.

The sign has helped remove some of the disturbance and the other usual troublemaker was of talking with her counterpart at Kaihin High School about taking part in the celebration of the world animal day.

Fortunately, she now had her experience from the cultural days and the celebration would be much less, each class would do an exhibition and walk around dressed as an animal. She had ordered a cute cat costume from the family tailor and the international class would do a presentation of the problems with plastic in the nature. Hopefully some of the parents would think twice next time they would dump plastic on a picnic.

Oh, Yui was saying something about costumes: "Yes, Yuigahama-san?"

"Yuikinon, you will come as a cat?" asked Yui again.

A laughter broke in: "Of course, she is. If she came as Pan-san, she would commit a felony and end up in jail for a hundred year" snickered Hachiman.

Yukino glared at Hachiman. He had once against destroyed her peace: "As a matter of fact, I had no intention of participating as a panda, because of the way the Chinese government is misusing that kind animal as a political weapon. And correct, I will come dressed like a cat, because the feline is a superior being, especially when compared to you. Poor Kamakura, that he must suffer such a servant as you". Fifteen – zero.

"Hey, Komachi takes good care of Kamakura, he always has ample with food and at least 10 different places to sleep" responded Hachiman. Weak response, no point, tallied Yukono.

"I am happy on behalf of Kamakura, that your sister take care of him, sis-con" Yukino continued, "but that only underline your failures". Thirteen - zero in such short time. He had not yet returned to his normal level of verbal sparring before the presidential election, it was as she was shooting sitting ducks here. Please, some resistance.

Yui broke in: "Hikki, what are you coming as?".

"As a sloth of course, it is a wonderful creature. No better example for the right way to live. To work is to lose" replied Hachiman fast.

Hachiman had spent some time thinking about it, after he had accepted the deal with the fire-queen. He had considered coming as a panda, because it was possible to get a full costume from Ranma ½ and it would have concealed him. But unfortunately, with the way the younger Yukinoshita-san reacted with Pam-san, he could be sure, that he would be kidnaped and kept as a pet for the rest of his life in a dark cellar. Naturally some of the boys at school would probably love it, but not him.

If he came as a cat, it would probably be misunderstood. By chance, he had seen the latest product of Hina-san's mind. That girl was sick. That was – not something a man should think about. And obviously, based on the way she behaved, when she saw him, she was already planning a second number. The print of the first volume had sold out quickly. According to rumors he didn't listen to.

A sloth would not raise any remarks.

It was Yukino's turn to snicker: "That is so you, Hikisloth". Forty-zero. It was becoming too easy. One ball left for the first point in today's game. Maybe another venue for attack should be tried, what trash was he reading today?

Meanwhile Kamakura

Kamakura woke up. His name must have been mentioned. Maybe one of his servants has served food. He jumped down from the top of the closet, he had taken his afternoon nap on. Everything seemed to be in order, except there was no new food in the kitchen. He would let his dissatisfaction be known later.

He returned to the living room. The sun seems to have heated the couch up. It would be a suitable place for his late afternoon nap.

The death of the former patriarch had been unfortunately.

If the former patriarch had succeeded in becoming immortal, the contract that the family and he had concluded, when he was called, formed and named so long ago, would have been terminated, since there would no longer be a need for guarding an heir. And then he would have been free. He would have liked to become free, no more work. To work is to lose. Even if these days were so more peaceful compared to the day's when he was called. At that time there was a war here and there, and an assassin behind the door not an unusual event.

Already he had to change his form to be better prepared for an attack, from his favorite lazy form to a more agile form, nimbler and thinner, than he liked to be.

The former patriarch after all, had been terminated without the guardians of the gate being aware of what happened, before it was too late. But then, their contract was to guard the temple against trespassers crossing the temple's sacred land, not the air. When the foxes had been called with the establishment of the temple, the patriarch at that time hadn't thought about establishing guardians against attack from the air.

The former patriarch had been kind enough when he was a boy under his protection, always ensuring his bowl was filed. Maybe if the head's karma was good enough, the former patriarch would be lucky enough to be reborn as a cat. But it was few, who was entitled to such a reward.

Kamakura jumped up on the couch and enjoyed the heat of the sun on him. Everything was peaceful. And if he was lucky, he didn't have to do anything to ensure that the new patriarch got an heir. Such things had a way to handle themselves the natural way, even if he had to interfere with heirs before to ensure that the line was kept. Nobody wanted to risk, that she woke up, after all. Then he had to act and unleash the unthinkable. Turning himself from such a negative thought, Kamakura fell asleep in the sun. Everything was peaceful.

A normal day at the Service Club II

Were her eyes, seeing right? Hachiman was not reading a light novel. The front page was not showing a big breasted bimbo with a gigantic sword fighting a dragon, while showing her panties, or a big breasted bimbo with a large staff throwing lightning bolts at a demon, while showing her panties or both at the same time. With a Lolita thrown in as spice.

You didn't have to be a literature teacher to understand the symbols, and a weak headed boy as Hachiman naturally reads that filth, as a cat licked cream. But this front page showed some men dancing. This was different, maybe he was becoming culturally? Was it her positive influence on him? She had to know: "What kind of book are you reading, Hachiman-san?".

Hachiman looked at his book with some embarrassment: "Oh, it is a book about Mikagura and Satokagura. I got it from the representative from the association. Since I did not grow up in a temple, I lack the basics in a lot of subjects, which I am expected to know when I start training to be a priest, and it get worse. It is a tradition, that the priest of my temple performs a dance for the goddess at New Year. It had been done forever, and the association wants me to dance at the new year to keep the tradition alive, so now I am also going to have dancing's lessons. It's such a bother".

"Hikki dancing. I want to see it, can we come?" asked Yui with interest.

To that question Hachiman got a little restless in his chair and started to mumble: "It is open for the public. Fortunately, I am only going to be one of the dancers this year. Apparently, my grandfather was a very good dancer, and taught other priests. So, this New Year some of his old pupils will come and dance with me, in honor of his memory. But when I am educated and take over, it is expected that I will do the dance alone. Hopefully at that time I can get some Miko's to do some dancing. That should make people ignore me and then they also can sell ema and omikuji for the temple. If they are pretty enough, they should be able to fleece a lot of young men for their New Year money".

Yui protested: "That's not nice, Hikki. They should spend their money on gifts to their girlfriends instead, to show their appreciation".

Yukino broke in: "Whatever your less fortunate views on the matter of financial disposition of one's New Year gift, how are there going to be dancing on a fire tomp?"

"The Association is going to floor it for New Year, putting up a stage, tents and so on. It seems the Association has a fond, which pay for the continuing of religious ceremonies when shrines and temple are being rebuilt" responded Hachiman: "It's something about keeping traditions alive, cultural legacy and upholding the spirit of our faith. I suspect it's some of those words I am going to have to learn to run a temple".

Yukino put a hand before her mouth to signal that she was keeping laughing back: "Oh, with that kind of words, it sounds more like you are aiming for a career as a politician rather than as a priest. Should I be worried that you are going to take my father's seat?"

"Well, there is not much difference between religion and politics in practice, except that priests don't have to deliver on promise in this life" Hachiman responded with a laugh.

"Excuse me" was heard, as the door to the classroom was opened.

Yukino looked irritated at the girl who had entered. One more, who didn't bother to knock before entering. The troublemaker was back. But as she was well raised and well versed in manners, she answered with a: "Please come in".

Yui responded with a: "Yehallo", while Hachiman just made a groan.

As Iroha came through the door, Yukino got up and prepared a cup of the for her. After all, Iroha did come because of the duty, the foolishness of the boy had caused.

As Iroha seated herself across the table, she put the tea beside Iroha with a; "Here you go", then she saw that Hachiman had put his book aside, and now was watching Iroha with attention. Except it was more like a stare. But he was starring on Iroha's face, not her bust. Did Iroha have something on her face? Or was Hachiman actually interested in Iroha?

Iroha didn't waste any time, when Yui prompted her with a "How did it go, Iroha-chan?".

"Actually, rather nice, even if Kaihin's president is weird. He sounds like something out of an American banking movie like Wall-Street. But senpai, your stalker, Orimoto-san, was there also."

Hachiman groaned: "She is not my stalker, please do not believe the media. You are intelligent enough to know that".

"Sorry senpai, even if it is good that you like girls with a brain, I have someone else I like. Please try another time, harder and in a more suitable environment" Iroha returned.

Hachiman groaned once again and lowered his head. Yukino made an adjustment of her scoreboard. One full point to Iroha in one go.

Iroha continued with her resumé from the meeting: "Kaihin also works together with a junior high school, who also want to participate. It seems senpai, that a lot of the children like the chance to be dressed up like an animal. Your old flame suggested that all schools did their own thing to keep it with Yukinoshita-san design, but that all students at the end of the day marched from their schools to meet up at a place in the town, maybe a park?".

Yui responded: "That sound like fun, we don't have much to do with the other schools".

Yukino chewed on the idea a bit and then said: "Not a bad idea. It would create a lot of visibility about animal welfare and the environment. But it is not something we can do our self, but maybe my father's office could manage the permits and setup. They are used to arrange such activities. I talk with my father about it and report back."

Hachiman looked up with relief: "In that way it is not more work for us, so please do".

Yukino sarcastic said: "You mean no more work for you", as she adjusted the scoreboard again. Herself 1 point, Iroha 1 point and Hachiman 0 points.

Well done all in all by Iroha, but she would have to keep a sharper eye on Iroha, since Iroha had indicated that Hachiman should try to approach her again. Did Iroha like the way Hachiman looked at her? Even if Yui was a bit of a bimbo, and had large breast, Yui was a friend, Iroha not. She supported Yui feelings, even if it was a mistake of Yui. But youth is the time for mistakes.

Hachiman started to rise, and collect his belongings: "Well, I expect that all for today. So, thank you for your work".

With that the club broke up and greetings exchanged.

Yukino left the club with a happy feeling. All in all, the day had gone well, and now she was even able to help her father. Mother was worried about the coming election and father would get into the doghouse, if he lost the seat mothers family had carried since the war. But it would be quite naturally if the Diet member from Chiba held a speech at such an event. Not even sister had been able to manage such a feat. And it would show mother, that she was working together with "the boy", which should help keep mothers nagging down.

A long way home I

Hachiman evaluated the situation. How to reach his faithful iron horse in the schoolyard without getting caught by those who would waste his time or worse, make him work.

First, he had to avoid the fox, who undoubtedly had some work, he had to take responsibility for. She had probably left for the student council room or to pester the poster boy. Better him than me. So, another way that does not pass the council room or is coming near the soccer field.

Maybe he should try to go up the stairs and then down the corridor there, until he reached the end, and could use the fire escape. That would mean that he would pass the manga club, but they would probably not be interested in him. The dangers of Ebina-san were not in that direction of his body, but his mind. After all, you should not stick it in crazy, especially the fujoshi variation, even if he had been tempted to take her offer of dating that day on the rooftop of Kyoto station. She was for sure hot, in that way he understood Tobe, even if Tobe was an idiot.

For security he activated his stealth skill, when he got to the corridor. Silent he passed the door to the manga club, where he heard a voice:

"President, the profits on the latest Hachiman / Hayato was good, but we need more money if we want a better place at FuyuComi for our circle."

"And to do that, we need to increase our numbers of readers" another voice added.

"So, we came up with an idea to appeal more to the boys. Our suggestions are, that we add a girl who watch the boys in action and become aroused herself, and then start pleasure herself, while watching them. That would allow us to add a lot of fan-service for boys to the story."

"Sacrilege" was heard from an angry voice, he recognizes as Ebina-san: "Nothing must profane the act of the holy boy-love. Never for money", but then in a more accommodating voice: "But the basic idea is good. We use a trap like Saika-kun instead, that would be a good mix, and then there would be something for the boys" Ebina-san changed her voice again, into one used by all leaders, who wanted the workers deliver more for less: "How do we get him in girl clothes? Maybe a mix up in the tennis club? Let us get the ideas, running, girls".

Shaken Hachiman continued down the corridor, what power Ebina-san had. The manga club were surely a den of evil, he would have to cleanse it one day, but first after they had produced the number with the angel Totsuka. He would have to get a copy, no two. Art of Totsuka had to be preserved.

Encouraged with the thought of future bliss, Hachiman reached the end of the corridor and opened the exit to the fire escape stairs. Freedom was near.

"Hachiman, it is I, the Blademaster general"

And then it was lost.

A long way home II

You can say a lot about Zaimokuza, but he did know how to bribe: Saize.
The cheap food, the cheap drinks. Heaven itself. Hachiman looked at his Max Coffee, as he dared to ask the question, he dreaded: "You have a new light novel?".

Zaimokuza responded: "More like the plot", as he gave Hachiman an envelope with a bunch of paper".

Hachiman looked sadly at the amount of paper and said: "Can you give me a resumé?"

Zaimokuza put his head over the table and lowered his voice: "We must be cautious, or someone will steal the idea. Basically, it is an interpretation of your clan's history.

Your clan are guardians, who fight Tamamo-no-Mae again and again, when she tries to take over Japan through seduction, curses and wars.

So over time there are a lot of battles with evil monsters, who obey Tamamo-no-Mae, while your ancestors have help from some Miko's, who actually are white ninja foxes in disguise. And the Heavenly Dragon Hoard. All the treasures are cursed items, your ancestors have collected from the battles with Tamamo and her servants".

Hachiman was confused. Had Zaimokuza been able to get an idea, who was not ripped off from another light novel, or movie? Or was he so behind in his reading, that Zaimokuza had new writers to steal from?

Zaimokuza continued: "Can't you see it? History dating back to old emperors and the shoguns to draw on. A well of possibilities".

"I thought Tamamo was killed off in the 12'th century?" responded Hachiman.

"Details" replied Zaimokuza with scorn: "It was in the old days you killed off the bad guy. Remember the measurement of the hero today is how good the crook is at being evil".

"So, I expect that Tamamo is still very good looking and try to seduce my ancestors to the dark side every generation?" asked Hachiman.

"Yes, and are blocked by the Miko's. Lots of fanservice. Every boy wants to read that, and some girls too. Girl with girl is in" Zaimokuza replied.

Hachiman looked at the envelope again: "All right, I will look at it, but it will probably take some time for me to respond. I have a lot of priestly things to do on the weekends, and I'm helping Komachi with her literature studies".

"That's all right. You do look more tired than usual. But don't take too long. When it becomes an anime, I'm going to marry the voice actor of Tamamo after all" Zaimokuza said with a serious expression on his face, or as serious as Zaimokuza could look at any time.

"Should she not go for me, since I am the hero in this generation?" Hachiman responded with a laugh, as he emptied the can.

Zaimokuza thought shortly about it and then replied: "Yes, you are right. We stop the series before the war, and that start it up as a sci-fi. We had to keep it somewhat realistic after all".

"Oh, who are you? You are not Zaimokuza. Are you an alien?" Hachiman responded: "I mean, something who actually sounds like an idea and a quip also".

Zaimokuza started to blush: "I have been visiting the manga club in some time. I am allowed in twice weekly, if I don't wear my coat, and I may only say something when asked. They say, that sometimes it is good to get a man's view on things. So, I go there, because they are girls, even if I feel defiled by commenting their stories".

"Oh, say no more. You have already fallen to the bewitching of Tamamo, I can hear" Hachiman quipped in return.

Both boys laughed off that, and then they left the paradise on earth, that was Saize.

A long way home III
Hachiman looked at his watch. He was nearly late, but if he hurried, he could pass by the local bookshop to see if there were any new interesting light novels. He was, after all, behind in his reading, as his meeting with Zaimokuza showed. He increased the speed of his valiant horse. It was as it had gotten easier to pedal these days.

As he arrived at the bookstore, he parked his bicycle and then glazed at the window. There were new titles, that did look interesting, several isekai with alluring females on the front. Maybe if he found some light novels about priests, he could get it categorized as teaching material. Hiratsuka-sensei had recommended that he got a good accountant. He had thought about leaving that job to his mother, but she was busy already and there were some expenses a son should not have to explain to his mother.

Hachiman entered the bookshop and started to peruse the book. In the old days, he could get hours to go by browsing, but he didn't have time to do that anymore. He should be resolute and act in the now. With that in mind, he should only buy books based on the front page and started to pick from that criterion. Panties, large breasts, big sword. Panties, big breasts, big sorcerer's stake. Panties, big breasts, bigger breast, and a Lolita, clearly a superior book, even if he was not a Lolita.

"Hikigaya, or what are you called these days?" said a voice behind him.

Hachiman turned with the books in his hands, and saw Orimoto Kaori, a girl he had hoped not to meet for some time. The magazine had not been nice to her in their description of their "torrid" love affair, or what it had been, and while he was not responsible for what was written, he still felt guilty about it: "You are welcome to call me what you want. I am sorry about what was written about you because of me".

"No biggie" responded Kaori with her usual bluntness: "Actually, it had given me an interesting reputation, after Chika told the girls in school, that I used you to get Chika a date with Hayama-kun, every girl in school want me to fix dates for them. Even had one, who asked if I could arrange a date for her with my ex".

"Oh, is she beautiful?" asked Hachiman without thinking, but with a relieved mind.

Kaori looked on the fronts of the books in Hachiman's hands and said with laughter in her voice: "Sorry, she can't compete with anyone of those girls you already have in your hands".

Hachiman felt a blush start on his cheeks. Kaori still had the ability to bypass his defenses quickly.

Kaori continued: "You are good with literature, but how is your English?"

"Not the worst subject for me. Is there something you need help with?" Hachiman asked.

"Tamanawa-san is driving me nuts with all the English words he uses. I don't know half of them, so I don't understand what he is saying most of the time, and now it has become worse, after his brother got promoted and send to London to replace a superior who left the company suddenly" Kaori said.

"Tamanawa-san is the president of your school, correct?". As Kaori nodded, Hachiman continued: "Isshiki-san mentioned, that your president did sound like something from an American business movie. So, I think you need a business dictionary. I don't think they have something like that at a bookshop like this. There you probably have to visit a bookstore serving Chiba University".

"Oh, fancy meeting you two here. Are you now unfaithful again? Abe no Hachiman, oh my poor sister. Or are you once again being hunted by a gold digger? Do you need help from your senpai to escape from a fate worse than death?" a voice from hell said behind them.

"Ahhh", Hachiman jumped, as he heard the voice. Which Kami had he offended? since his karma got worse and worse throughout the day.

Kaori started to laugh: "Yukinoshita-san, you're surely do know how to get the boys jumping for you. I envy your talent in that".

Haruno posed, so she was face to face with both of them, and said: "Please, call me Haruno. If you mention Yukinoshita-san, I start to look around for my mother".

"Then please call me Kaori, Haruno-san" Kaori replied with a light bow.

"So, Hachiman-kun, do tell. Have there been any progress with your love interests?"

"Yes, please do" Kaori supported.

"Sorry to tell you, I am not that interesting. All that priestly work is keeping me busy, so Inari Okami is the only women for me for the time being" Hachiman said. That should limit the damage Haruno could do.

"Oh, you only accept goddesses now a day. No mortal women anymore, so now many young females will live in despair because of you" Haruno responded. A statement which quickly was followed with snicker from both female presents.

Haruno then put her hand on Hachiman, and let her fingers run down Hachiman chest: "But it does seem that you are growing a bit more muscular since last, don't you agree Kaori-san?".

"Nice to meet you Yukinoshita-san. See you later Orimoto-san. I am sorry, that I can't stay and entertain you, but I must be home soon" Hachiman said, as he pulled back from Haruno.

Right, Haruno do not have any shame. Why had he forgotten that? Maybe they should give the role of Tamamo to Haruno, then Zaimokuza should marry Haruno. No, not even Zaimokuza deserved such a fate.

Hachiman went quickly to the cash register and payed for his books, and then escaped from the bookshop. As he left on his bicycle, he saw that Kaori and Haruno was talking in the shop. Poor Kaori. Hopefully Kaori wouldn't catch Haruno's interest.

Kaori

As Kaori left the shop, she reflected on what had happened. Hachiman body may be a bit better than last time, but his eyes looked so much worse. She would tell her friend, who had asked for an introduction, the fact about his look, before she carried on with that quest. It was funny, how reputation now had turned her into the cupid of Kaihin High. In that way, she had also become a servant of a god, and her god was vastly more exciting and romantic than Hachiman's goddess.

The one who actually seemed to have changed because of the magazine story about Hachiman asking her out, were her mother. She had stopped knitting, to the great pleasure of the family and the poor orphans in the world. Hopefully her mother would gain a new hobby, but one, who did not embarrass the family so much.

Haruno

That had not gone well. The boy had become even more afraid of her. How could she work under those conditions?

It was one thing when she played with the boy to get information on Yukino-chan, and keeping herself entertained, but now he was a goal in himself. A goal she had to handle with great care, since the boy now was in the position, where he could kill the family of with a snap of his fingers, be it financial, in status or both, if he got angry. But that only made him more interesting.

She could seduce the boy herself, but that would destroy Yukino-chan chance to gain something genuine.

It would be so much simpler if she just could get them drunk and naked together. Unfortunately, the boy was not the type to get drunk, and Yukino-chan not the type to get naked.

There was a reason, that she had given her virginity to the vice-principal. After that she had owned the school. Quid pro quo. Love was so much more difficult.

Kamakura

Kamakura watched as the boy tumbled through the door. Servant number 3 was late again for dinner, as expected.

Hina
Hina entered her clubroom, she was the leader of the circle, so it was her clubroom, before it was anyone else. The other members of her circle had left for the day, so only one other person was now present.

Saki-chan was a such a good worker and very skilled with her needle. The numbers of costumes ordered for the festival lying around Saki-chan was growing fast, and each of them would bring a profit to the club, herself and to Saki-chan.

Hachiman-kun had brought blessings to them all, but it was still difficult for her to imagine him as the top and Hayato-chan as the bottom. She had even started to use chan for Hayato instead of kun and using Hachi's real name. But you had to give the market, what they wanted, to earn the Yen.

And they all needed the money, for the circle to raise the awareness of their work, for Saki-chan to remove the feeling of being a burden, and for her, to gain more funding for her dream to gain a degree as an instructor. And if she gained it, it would create new challenges in itself. Her family was not connected in any way, so she probably had to go to America to get the possibility to instruct anything more than a puppet show at a secondary school.

Maybe she should have pushed Hachiman-kun more at that time on the roof. She had been grateful for the solution, and maybe it could have worked with him, regardless – or because – of their respectively perversions. But would she had been more aggressive, if she had known he was a kazoku and as such could open any door for her in Japan?

But then other things would have changed. Especially one thing. Hina looked at Saki-chan, who was lost in the making of the costumes. Saki-chan was maybe, probably, turning into some kind of a real friend. And that created new challenges as Saki-chan seemed to be interested in Hachiman-kun, even if Saki-chan was rather tsundere about it, despite being a dandere at her core.

Maybe it was something about Hachiman-kun, that turned the girls around him into tsunderes. Even the normally kuudere Yukino became rather thundere around him, and the ever caring Yui, who had clearly fallen for Hachiman-kun long before Kyoto, had a rather foul mouth when speaking with him. But as long as no one of them turned yandere, and the bodies started to pile, it was not her problem.

Maybe that could be the basis for the next story. A yandere Hayato-chan. That would make Hayato-chan the active and Hachiman-kun the object again. And she could start the story by having Hayato-chan remove Tobe first.

Oh, she still had some issue with Tobe trying to disturb the status quo. But at least she could turn her anger into a creative outlet. That was the basis for every artist. Now, where would you hide the body of Tobe?

Kamakura forever

Mrs. Hikigaya got her key and open the door slowly. Another late night. It would be best not to wake Komachi. Komachi needed her beauty sleep with that amount of lessons she did to pass the exam for Sobu. She had promised herself that she would try to cut down on the late nights, but the agenda for the board meeting keep expanding, but for the first time in years it was in the right direction. Investment instead of cutting, and she would gain a new kohai in her department.

As she slowly closed the door behind her, she felt something against her leg. Oh, he was not saying anything to her. That meant. She pushed the switch, so the light came on. Yes, once again, he had a mouse in his mouth, the proud hunter. She knelt and petted him: "Yes, you are the greatest hunter, and has the fastest paw with the sharpest claw in all of Chiba. I am glad you protect us. Should we exchange that bad mouse with some tasty treats as a reward?"

Moving to the kitchen with cat and mouse in tow, she went and open the door to the refrigerator and took out some treats from Kamakura's part of the refrigerator. That part was, as always, better stocked than the rest of the refrigerator.

Last winter she had been worried that he was getting too fat, but now he was thin and nimble again. Maybe she should try to sell the mouse diet and become rich, although it was no longer necessary for her to work for that. They were now well off, and Hachiman would join the 1 %, when he got old enough, but no reason to tell him that yet. Sudden wealth had destroyed the young and inexperienced before.

It had obviously been a very good business practice for her family to bleed peasants for 500 years, and mysterious enough, there hasn't been any one of her ancestors who had wasted the money, got involved in the losing side of politic or been whipped out in a war. Most fortunes were collected by brutal genius, and then wasted by their idiotic heir and/or eliminated by another brutal genius, who wanted their wealth, by the sword, by poison, or in this civilized time, by contract.

It was a shame, that Hachiman hadn't inherited any of her sense for numbers, but there he was the son of his father. She had to watch Hachiman's account, when the court got around to releasing them to her. Typical of the lawyers to drag it out, so they could bill as many hours as they possibly could get away with.

She also had to ensure, that whoever married her boy was able to count, or Hachiman would be fleeced like his father had been, when they were young. He had so wanted to impress her with his business sense, and then he invested in a pyramid scheme because of a pretty face.

She had nearly left him because of it, but she felt what they had were genuine, and she had learned one important lesson from her mother: That love was more important than wealth, even if you cried better on your yacht of 18 carat gold. But since then, her husband had been forbidden to have anything to do with their money. Oh, how she, who had demonstrated for equal right at Uni, had fallen, turning into a proper Japanese housewife, controlling the family purse and thereby the man.

Lucky Komachi seemed to have inherited her mad math skills, as the number one of her year at school, and Hachiman was very good in helping Komachi with literature, so there was no doubt in her mind, that Komachi would pass her exam. Of cause a little voice did whisper, that Komachi would pass now, regardless of her actual results, by virtue of being her brother's sister. It had been more mysterious how Hachiman had managed to get into Sobu with his result in math and science, without his family legacy been known.

She put the treats in one of Kamakura's bowls, and put the bowl on the floor. Kamakura dropped the mouse as expected and started to munch on the feast presented to him: crunch crunch crunch.

It was in its own way calming to hear the munching, then you know the cat wasn't making trouble.

She took the dustbin and a plastic bag, and with her great practice in the matter, whipped the mouse into the bag. Then it went into the garbage can. She would have to send a mail to the housing association, that they hadn't got rid of the rodent infestation yet, even if it would reduce Kamakura's interest in exercising.

The cat in question had now finished his treats and were looking around: Where did my mouse went? his eyes said.

Kamakura looked at her. Clearly, she was a suspect. Kamakura went to her and jumped on the kitchen table beside her.

"Hey Kamakura, you know you must not be up here on the table," she whispered, as she started to pet him. Kamakura started to purr. So soothing. The spinning of a cat had always been of great comfort to her. And there had always been a Kamakura to purr for her.

As her mother had told her the story, her mother had taken nothing but her and the cat, when her mother left the temple. Her mother had left in the clothes she had worn when she entered the temple as a bride for the first time, and then put the cloth to fire after she had passed the entrance for the last time in her life. Then she got into her lover's car naked. Meowing cat and sleeping daughter in the backseat. For neither her daughter, nor the cat should suffer that man, whose name should not be mentioned, anymore.

As a soldier her new father, and her real father in all that mattered, including her legal registration in his family register, had been transferred around in Japan a lot. She had liked it, new places, new excitements and she always found it easy to get new friends and keeping the old. She had spent a lot of time written letters in those days. Fortunately, now a day it was so much easier to keep in contact with the internet.

When she had entered college, and had moved out of her parents' home, her parent had asked to take the cat they had at that time with her, because they wanted to make a trip around Japan as a second honeymoon. A trip they never returned from. At least it had been a comfort for her to know, that they died as they would have wished, together.

Not long after, she had been involved in a project with the film club at Uni. It had been rather flattering to be asked to participate and over a summer with some misunderstandings and a funny accident, she had discovered that the instructor was quite nice and not too bad looking in his swimming trunks. The rest was a rather normal, banal history, even if that summer, looking back, seems to be something out of a manga.

When Hachiman was born, she had sent a letter to the temple with a picture of Hachiman. Maybe it had been an attempt to connect in a way with a lost past, but she had never gotten any reply.

She understood now by the rather embarrassed representative from the Association, that as the mother of the heir, she actually should have received a large yearly stipend from the temple foundation to pay for the cost of raising Hachiman in appropriate manners for one of his rank, and she should also, of all mysterious things, have received a kimono made of wild silk, which should protect her from curses because of its magics properties, as a thank you for providing the heir. Typical patriarchal bullshit. Get a son, get a bonus. Get a girl, well, sorry, better luck next time.

But she had accepted to receive the money owed, after all they have had the cost, but asked that the kimono would be made for Komachi instead. She would have loved to have such a dress to wear at formal occasion, when she was young, but now she didn't need it anymore. She had no need to impress anymore, but Komachi would be magic herself in such a dress. Able to spellbind any man she wanted.

The motto now a day was not a good education, nobility and purity. Who wanted purity these days? but beauty, elegance and magic. Even if her daughter now had ties to nobility, and a good education, she would gain by herself.

It would be much more difficult for Hachiman, especially because his face was so marred by those eyes, he had inherited from the one whose name should not be mentioned. And wealth, wealth created its own difficulties, since it worked like Coca Cola for wasps.

But she hoped that they both would be able to find that genuine thing, that she and her mother had been able to find. It was the true blessing in life, not to be in love, that was easy, but to love, to understand the feelings of your partner. That was the quest to live in and for, every day.

Hmm, maybe when there comes a girl by, she would like as a daughter in law, with parents, she could accept to share a dinner table with, she should arrange a changing room accident. Oh, or a boy. Full support. Komachi had mentioned that there was a boy at school, that Hachiman spoke a lot about. The summer accident after all had worked for her, even if it had been a bit, hmm, embarrassing and ecchi at that time. Maybe after the board meeting, they should see the movie the film-club made that summer again. It was always a good setting for a bit of quality time. She then had to get rid of the kids. How? Hmm.

Kamakura

Kamakura enjoyed the petting, he received. Even if she nowadays only was his servant number two, she was still very good at scratching him behind his ears and on his throat. Sometimes experience trump agility. Petting and the food were the primary reasons he had accepted the contract in Kamakura in time past. The land of the dead didn't offer any benefits of those kinds, and the dead were rather boring, including his ever-crying mother. She should have gotten over that man long ago.

The director
The director closed the file and erased it. All the traces of his old strategy were now removed from the mainframe and his workstation. He then took the material for the coming board meeting and flipped it through.

Everything seemed all right. Increasing the company value through organic growth. No more buying companies, plunder them and sell them on, or outsourcing work, especially the department of audit. A pity, the offer from the Indian company to do the accounts had been competitive. Instead, they were now going to increase hiring.

The board had always wondered why the temple had invested so much in them, but since there was no demand, it was the assumption, that the temple had been interested in the healthy company dividend. But now it was quite clear. It was a family thing,

He had to ensure that with future employment, the candidates were also controlled regarding former family register.

The only good thing about the situation was that he now had a direct link to the largest shareholder in the company through the mother. That would please his wife. Since she read the article about the new Kazoku boy, she had gone total tiger on their youngest daughter to ensure their daughter could pass the test to Sobu.

He should probably arrange a donation to Sobu to ensure that their daughter got in, regardless of the test. The vice-principal after all did have expensive habits.

As regard his daughters' chances to have success in getting the boy. She was as beautiful, as his wife had been, when they met years ago, but unfortunately their daughter had also inherited all the worst characteristics of his wife and himself, if he should be honest. Bluntly said, their daughter was not a nice girl behind her attractive shell.

Oblivious, he hadn't seen that side of his wife before late in their marriages, love did after all make one blind. He did something wonder, if they had not participated in his wife's class reunion, would their world have not changed, and would they have lived in something like, maybe, contentment today.

But after that reunion something had gotten into his wife, and everything had changed. Suddenly he couldn't work enough nor do enough to get promoted, and she had started to play the social game hard, getting new friends as the Yukinoshita, where the wife is the epitome of an Yuki-onna. It was quite understandable that Yukinoshita-san also was a frequent guest at the club.

Of course, he sold himself visiting the club to his wife as a necessary for networking with the powerful in Chiba. Not because he was drinking there to forget his wife and chatting with young girls in the hope of regaining a memory of a lost time, where there was something genuine in his life. Their daughter's enrollment to Sobu would be another example of the essential of being a regular customer at the club.

Maybe he should also discuss the possibility to place the new factory in the village of the temple with the chairman of the board instead of placing it China as planned. That would give plenty of excuses to visit the temple and work directly with their owner. After all, the boy could make him chairman of the board regardless of their daughter. That should satisfy his wife's ambition – for a while. And it would also give their daughter to casual meet with the Kazoku boy – quite by chance.

A girl by the stairs
Hachiman sighed. Early Sunday, and his body was already in pain from Saturday. Who could know that dancing was so hard. He had pain in muscles he didn't know he had. And public transport to the temple was a challenge in itself. He should be sleeping and dreaming about a lavish brunch, but no, the bell rang for him.

At least the training in meditation was not physically hard, but getting hit with a booking when you fall asleep hurt – a lot, and why did his training in meditation have to take place at the temple instead of in the city? If it had to be a temple, Chiba had a lot of those too, but no, he had to learn to align his ki with the ki of the mountain, but how was that even possible? It was probably another koan he should not learn, but just experience, according to his teacher.

The Association was serious on his ass, just because he hadn't been trained since he was a baby. At least the protagonist in manga and anime, who was involved in the priest business, always had beautiful female characters and ecchi situation to compensate, like Tenchi or Ikkou. Where were his harem of Miko's and ecchi experiences? Was it because he was being trained to serve a female goddess, was she the jealous type? As a goddess of fertility should she not help him sow his seeds? Clearly there was something wrong with his youth romantic story, as expected, unless it was a comedy. That would actually explain a lot.

Hachiman arrived at the stairs to the temple and saw there was a young girl sitting by the fox statues, using a stick to draw in the earth. She reminded him a bit about Komachi, as she sat there drawing. Komachi had done the same, when she was younger. Sitting on the stairs to the house, drawing symbols in the earth, while Kamakura was sitting by her side, watching the stick, waiting for the right time to attack.

Interested in seeing what she was drawing, Hachiman activated his stealth technique and approached the girl.

As he got closer, he could see she was drawing a kind of symbol in the earth. A kind of star. Then she suddenly raised her head and looked straight at him. How did she know?

She raised from her position and continued to stare at him: "You have a lot to learn, if I can feel you, when you try to conceal".

"Ehh, I am not sure what you mean, and what is a young girl like you doing, so early in the morning here?" Hachiman responded, trying to establish authority. After all, he was the oldest, and for a priest, it was important to express authority. It made the customers pay more and promptly for services, according to his teachers.

"Pfft. Early, you are a city boy. Most in the neighborhood had been up since daybreak taking care of the animals and fields, except for those who has been up the whole night" the girl said with a tone of disapproval.

"Sorry for being a city-boy" Hachiman excused, after all, he was guilty of that. His attempt of authority had fallen to the earth as a stone. His teacher was right. More training.

"Yes, you should be sorry to let a lady wait. It is not only training you lack, but also manners" the girl continued.

Now she sounded just like the fox, help: "You are not the first one to say that", responded Hachiman with a sigh. Another complaining girl, please great goddess, I am sorry, this was not what I mean, and she is too young, I am neither a sis-con nor a lolita.

"Even if you lack training, grandmother say's you are already quite strong in spirit, so I want you to do a blessing of my older sister" demanded the girl.

"A blessing on your sister? I am not qualified to do that. You must wait until I have my degree", Hachiman replied. One of the things that agents of the Association continued to remind him of, was not to do any religious ritual except when in the presence of a teacher of the Association, since it could have serious negative consequences later. One's reputation were crucial for what the buyer would pay for one's religious services".

"Pftt. If you don't do anything, how do you learn? Grandmother always says, that all that theory is in way of getting to the root. Practice is the only way of learning" responded the girl: "And by the way, I can pay you for the blessing, one way or another".

Hachiman blushed, what was the girl offering? He should never have complained to the goddess. He had learned the lesson: "Sorry, what do you mean by that?".

Laughing the girl responded: "Get your head out of the gutter. You are far too old for me. A curse for a blessing or cash, whatever you prefer. I got my share of grandmother's pay for the curse work this night, a moonless night after all is a business night".

"Curses?" asked Hachiman, now he was confused. The Association had never said anything about doing curses, but a lot about cleansing in order to purify a thing or a living being, even if it would be a long time before he was allowed to cleanse people.

"Yes, cursing people with bad luck in a matter of love or business, or worse. Making an unfaithful man impotent had always been a good seller, even if Viagra had made the effect of that curse less effective than it was in the past" answered the girl and continued: "So interested in a deal?".

Well, he did have a bug he wanted to crush, but the bug was protected by a very strong force of female will, and it was probably also something which would affect his karma negative. The teachers from the Association was always talking about the importance of reflecting about one's actions. It was not so easy to be a priest, as it had looked when he first heard about the temple and his inheritance. There seemed to be a lot hidden in the small print in the job description. He should have stuck to be a house husband, but then he would lose the money, which would make him a free man. Oh, the delusion and desires of man, which bound one to the wheel: "I don't think I have anyone I hate enough, that I want a curse on them, and taking money for services I am not allowed to give yet. That is a big no no".

The girl suddenly got closer to him and looked up on him, directly into his eyes. There was not many who did that, his eyes seemed to scare people even more these days. Her eyes were as cold as the ice queen, as she said: "So it is that, you want to trade. Just like your grandfather, talking sweet about seeking the genuine, stringing girl after girl along, but married for money, power and honor. That didn't go well for your grandfather".

"TO CLOSE, you are too close" Hachiman screamed, as he moved back. What was that about his grandfather?

"As all men you are afraid of the left side. Do as I will, or I will scream" she said, as she moved against him again, and then grabbed his hand, and started pulling him. Defenseless he followed her until they stood in her drawing, between the foxes. Suddenly she smiled, saying: "So you can learn, good, now bless my sister".

Hachiman looked at her, this got more and more crazy. The girls at school had been rather aggressive in their attempts to talk with him, but they had at least not demanded. If he didn't obey her, she probably would go medieval on his ass. This girl was a terrifying combination of the fox and the ice queen. Goddess, please protect me: "I will do as you will, but the consequence is upon you. So, what should I say?"

"Repeat after me: "I bless this girl's sister in her seeking of what she loves. May the goddess grant her luck with her quest" the girl said.

Hachiman uttered the words, and he felt something move. What was this, was it the ki, his teacher talked about? As the words had left his mouth, he looked at the girl, and said: "Well, you got your will. Hopefully it will not cause any ill effect."

"That is on me. My sister has always been kind to me, and since she has started to look, I should repay her" the girl answered with confidence.

"Why didn't you mention her name?" asked Hachiman.

"And warn you ahead? She could after all decide to pursue you", the girl responded.

"With my eyes, please. She is welcomed. Is she beautiful? If she is and she is interested in a part time job as a Miko, she is welcome to contact me. I could use some girls at New Year".

"How nice of you. I shall tell her, but you should not be so worried over your eyes. For the right girl, they could be quite an attraction". She then lifted herself up on her heels and kissed him on the cheek: "And as promised, your payment. Remember, I always pay my debt. In that way I am a Lannister".

Laughing, she left a confused Hachiman. What had just happened? A girl had kissed him, voluntary, even if it was as payment. It seemed that the girls in the village were just as mysterious as at Sobu.

The foxes two
"Oh, that was interesting. It is a long time since we have had such fun by our gate".

"Yes. Best seduction scene in a long time. That talent is still strong in that line".

"Maybe you should ask her for a lesson, big sister. If you had been good enough, then we didn't have to stay here"

"Shut it, little brother. You were a part of the deal".

"How long?"

"The same year as yesterday, brother. Patience is a tail of wisdom in itself".

A matter of intelligence and wisdom

Tanaka watched the advisor of the mundane arriving, making his way to him. Good, they had time to exchange some information before the meeting. The chairman as always was delayed.

Tanaka raised from his seat and left his table to go out and meet the old and dignified man: "Good day, Minister. I'm sorry, but the chairman is a bit delayed".

"That is all right, Tanaka-san. I am a bit early myself, after all. So maybe you have time for a short chat. Had anything interesting happen?" the minister inquired, while passing a koban to him. Tanaka swapped it discreetly into his pocket, showing much practice in the art.

"Not much, Minister. As it had been lately, most of what happens, happens in Chiba".

"Our new lord in action?" asked the minister with a small smile.

"Not directly Minister. The second son of the Ozusiki family, tried to claim the lay-line of Chiba and was eaten by the protector, a local witch girl made the young lord give a blessing to her sister, which she paid for with a kiss and then there was the unfortunate murder of the local oyabun with a cursed dagger" replied Tanaka.

"Yes, I have heard about the murder. Rather grisly. Had it been solved how the dagger got away from the temple?" inquired the minister.

"No, it was probably stolen by a worker. The oyabun was a known collector of antiques" Tanaka informed.

"Oh well, that happens. I trust that the dagger now is secure" the minister asked.

"Of cause Minister. Unfortunately, the dagger is not the only challenge. Several of the items in the Heavenly Dragon Hoard represent challenge we do not seem to have the expertise to solve" Tanaka responded.

The minister looked Tanaka in his eyes, colors shifting: "Well, maybe we should ask the Clock Tower to help. The British Museum would definitely like to exhibit selected works from the Heavenly Dragon Hoard. I will talk with the chairman about your suggestion, Mr. Tanaka".

"Much obliged, Minister" Tanaka replied with a small bow. A green light went on at the chairman door, and the minister responded with a bow of the same type, and then left for the door to the chairman.

Tanaka returned to his desk. The minister was such a reasonable man. Not, at least because the minister knew his limitations. After all, if it was not for his family name, the minister would probably be just another clerk at the Association, one of the many who had been good, but not good enough to inherit their family magic. Of course, those who were intelligent, but not wise enough to know their limitation tried to take a short cut to power like the second son of the Ozusiki family.

And of course, the fact that the second son had found a rare book about lay-lines left by chance on his desk, and that Tanaka had won the kobans in the office dead-pool on the boy, was just a coincidence. After all intelligence without wisdom, is double stupidity.

He should reward himself for his wisdom. His old pal, fesser, had been raving at their latest bar hopping about a young girl, he had met at a club, including that the girl had a friend, who also was looking for an older friend. He was, after all, always willing to help a youngster to get ahead.

The daughter
A young woman opens the door to the office with a slam: "Mother, what is the meaning of this? Why should I attend Sobu High? None of my friends are going to that school. I am going to be the laughingstock of all".

"My dear, please take 10, while I finish my call. Yes, sorry. That was my daughter. Unfortunately, she is not housebroken yet Mr. President.

That was very kind of you to say, Mr. President. We will ensure that the money is transferred as agreed. Have a good day and please give my greeting to your wife. Thank you, Mr. President".

The lady puts down the phone and turned off the scrambler. Then she looked at her daughter with a smile and answered the question with: "6-point 2 percent my dear.".

The daughter looked astonished at her mother and asked: "Why, the voting limitation is 2 percent. Why buy more than needed to get on the board?".

"That, my dear, is what I would like to know also", the lady said, as she signaled to her daughter, that she should sit down. The daughter obeyed.

The lady then continued: "We thought that the stock that was traded over London Exchange was distributed among hedge companies, who was playing on the margin. But actual it was a temple in Japan, who has bought the shares over time, and then lend it out to the hedge companies against security. The temple has played the bank, always ensure that they would win regardless of the players gain and losses, and then used that money to buy more of our stock".

"But what has that to do with Sobu High?" asked the daughter.

"The head priest of the temple died, and his heir is a 2-year student at Sobu High. So, we think you should enter Sobu High in order to gain a good relationship with him. After all, he is going to be your largest minority shareholder" the lady said with a smile.

The daughter thought it over, 6-point 2 percent. That boy could be a problem for her in taking over the family conglomerate, when the time came: "All right mother, I will do it on behalf of the family, as long you don't expect me to marry him".

"No need for such drastic action, my dear. Never sell yourself for less than 10 percent of the share capital" the lady responded with a laugh: "Now, you are excused. I have some business to take care of my dear. We can talk more about it at dinner".

"Very good mother". The daughter left the office much more subdued, than she had entered.

The lady looked at her daughter closed the door behind her. That had gone much easier than she expected, and maybe the boy didn't have 10 percent of the conglomerate, but the other companies on the list of his inheritance was also impressive. Her father in law was right, that the boy would be a good match for her daughter.

But that was something for the future. For now, there was day to day matters to handle. She turned on the scrambler again and dialed a number on the phone: "Moshi moshi, I have a package to be handled".

As the daughter closed the door behind her, she started to dance down the corridor. The servant would be shocked if they saw her behavior, but everything had worked.

She had not truly believed it would work. Fathers and brothers' esoteric studies were far out. She had never been able to gain access to her fathers' study room, but brother was totally a siscon. And he had often allowed her to play around in his room.

When she had first tried one of her brothers so-called spells on Aiko, because Aiko had said she was ugly, Aiko had a large wart on her nose the next day, and everybody had called her a hag that day. That had been funny.

The second time was when she saw the butler kick the dog. The butler was the next day found wearing the mistress lingerie under his uniform, when he tumbled down the stairs, in view of everybody. Her mother's laughter had been stressed that day. But worse was the hour she had to endure, where her mother told her about the bees and the flowers. Talk about agony. Mother should know about the books and magazines brother hid under his bed.

But this was the first time she had success with something on a large scale. She had made the pentagram and everything. And now, now she would go to her true love. Ever since that day, she had seen him on the front page of the magazine, she knew that he was her destined love. The heartthrob of Chiba, pouring water on his sweating body, after a rough game. And now she would conquer him, by going to Sobu.

The foreman II

As the black van rolled up to the building site in the night, the foreman raised the bar, so the van could enter.

It rolled in. The foreman dropped the bar again and went to the front window of the van, which was lowered. A hand came up with an envelope and a voice said.: "Payment as agreed".

The foreman took the envelope and put in his pocket, and lit his flashlight, using the light to direct the wan: "Please drop the packages in the hole". The van drove to the hole and turned. The sound of doors opening, and closing could be heard. The foreman turned off his flashlight and went back to the bar and raised it again. The van left the building site. As silent as it had arrived

The foreman went to the hole and started a cement mixer. He had been quite lucky lately. A nice bonus from the boss for saving the meal ticket. Another bonus from the boss for the free media coverage and a nice gift from the oyabun for the dagger, he had managed to lift from the Heavenly Dragon Hoard.

Unfortunately, the oyabun didn't get to enjoy the gift for long, as the daughter of a notorious gambler was picked up for her father's outstanding debt, and what had happened after that, no one knew, except the girl who now was catatonic, while the oyabun had his testicles stuffed into his mouth and his body mutilated. According to rumor, the sight of the late oyabun had been worse, than the stories of mutilation from the Colombian connection.

But the death of the oyabun had been good for business. So many youngsters wanting to prove, they were ready for promotion and then there was the Bratva, who saw potential in getting access to the zone to peddle their stuff. The Colombian was not happy with that. They liked to be the sole suppliers of the Tokyo area, be it of drugs or females.

The foreman looked down in the hole. Hmm, he didn't recognize this guy, so no sake to help appease the spirits on the last journey for old times' sake. The guy actually looked more like a banker in that clothes. He hadn't seen that kind of business since the bubble economy went burst, and debts in the estate business were called in, which had started the stagnation. He would have to tell the wife. She should move her money from stocks to bonds. The wife had lost a lot of money when the bubble burst. The foreman started to fill the hole with cement. The good thing with cement was that most problems could be removed with enough cement. When he was finished, he went back to his chair, drank some sake from his bottle and relaxed while waiting for the next customer with a package to deliver.

Il Principal II

The principal controlled the meters showing the energy collected. Most of the meters showed a nice growth, especially the meter from the manga club. He looked forward to the next number of their manga.

The meter from the teacher's room on the other hand was somewhat below the normal level for a week. He would have to assign Shizuka-chan another boring job, her rage was always a good contribution of energy.

If his projection of the gain of energy was correct, it should be possible to collect enough in the next year, that he could die, and then return as his nephew and heir, starting as a young teacher in the holy halls in Sobu once more.

His new method was so such much better than the old one. Possession of a younger body was difficult, especially if you didn't have a magic circuit and a decedent of your blood available. In the old days, you had to possess a youngster, who didn't have a family, or you run the risk, that the family would take you and your new body to a priest. He had lost acquaintances that way, because they had either been careless, could not let go of the wealth, they had acquired in their old life or done something wrong in the process, like trying to possess a child of someone important and powerful. The kind of activities which attracted the interest of the church, or worse, the counter force.

But with his new way, by using energy with had already been dispersed from their original bodies, and reusing something that already was his, his impact on the real world would be minimal, and it would be nice to be a young man again.

Just like when he attracted her. In those days he surpassed even little Hayama in beauty. And he did enjoy both her bed and her books. Unfortunately, she never understood that the important thing was not reaching the roots, but the process itself. Just like the story of a good manga. There were reasons, that the church could be helpful to a struggling magnus. The ones who left the world, didn't affect the reality of the world anymore.

Maybe he should try to invite Shizuka-chan out for a date, when he returned. She was a fabulous woman: Strong, intelligent and able to act. Just like his empress had been, when maneuvering the clans and running the court, while also pursuing her esoteric studies. Maybe he would be able to convince Shizuka-chan, that a Christmas cake could still taste good after the 25'th. And Shizuka-chan did have an additional charm, that his empress didn't have. She liked manga. Who could have known, what he and his friends did fooling around at that time in the ukiyo-e of Edo, would carry such strange fruits.

Shizuka

Shizuka looked at the program for the march again. The principal hated her, there could be no other explanation. The vice-principal of course had called it an important learning experience and a good chance to network across Chiba.

Networking, my ass. Not a single good-looking man among them, either the representatives of the other schools was old men, who was waiting for their pension, or young girls like herself. And the representatives from the Diet-members office were some kind of beings, who had gotten out from the servers. Their nice words couldn't cover the ooze and slime they left after them. They would probably soon be elected to lead the country.

And learning, yeah right, how to keep all that kids out of trouble? She could see the headlines. Riot in Chiba. Police attacked by fluffy animals. Teacher arrested.

At least it kept her occupied, it was not as anything exciting was happening, and then there was her little dilemma, she had to decide about.

Asami-chan was one of her best friends, they had spent a lot of nights together in the town hunting, and now she had asked for an introduction to Hachiman. It seemed that an official approach from her magazine for an interview had been refused by the lawyer, so now she tried the unofficial way.

The magazine had been nice in their story about Hachiman so far, so in that regard, there was no problem. It was more the story with Hayato in his first year, that indicated a problem. The interest Hayato had attracted after the magazine had made him the number one boy in Chiba hadn't been so good for Hayato.

But Hachiman was stronger than Hayato in regard to unwanted attention, since Hachiman routinely killed himself social.

In that way the boy had actually trained himself to a life on the front page, so hopefully Hachiman wouldn't go down like other celebrities in a mishmash of drugs and other bad decisions, including bad partners.

Of cause a bad woman could actually be a good decision, like "Ohhh, I need a dirty woman". She was after all rather good in that role.

Right, that line of thought was no go. He was a student; she was the teacher. Even if he now was a very rich student with a family name, her parents would love to drop at gatherings.

Akihabara
Hachiman looked around, once again, he was the lone traveler walking through the bazaar of the alien place know as Akihabara, where a man could hunt treasures among the traders from strange worlds and other dimensions.

Who could have known that the celebration would give such benefits? Most schools in Chiba had given their pupils a ½ day off, so the teachers could meet to discuss the plan for the march. And the fox and the Ice-queen precipitated in the meeting too, respectively, as the president of Sobu and as the contact to those, who did all the paperwork. The fire queen had used the opportunity to gather all the ladies of her court to go karaoke, leaving him as a free man.

So, obviously he had done, what the mouse does, when the cat is out. Go seek the cheese, and no place in all of Japan had more cheese than Akihabara, especially the beautiful, young and female kind. Most of them in 2D of course, but 2D was generally less dangerous than the 3D. Source: A lot of boys, including myself.

But there were maids everywhere, soliciting their cafés. When the temple got up and running, maybe he should have a Miko café. That would probably appeal to customers who didn't normally visit a temple, even if the café was out of the city, since Miko's was not the usual fare.

There were actually also more 3D girls than usually out doing cosplay for a weekday. He had already seen a real good cosplay group consisting of a fox, a tanuki and a weasel. Not normally a combination you got to see, unless it was in a reenactment of a battle manga. But it showed once again the sad fact, that he was behind in his readings, since he could not recognize the story.

He had considered taking pictures of them, but with his luck, the girls would scream and then he would be arrested for disturbing the public order, or worse, one of the girls in the club would by chance see the pictures on his phone and misunderstand his natural interest in the beauty of cosplay.

Instead, he would be smart and use his faithful servant, the computer, to find pictures of the girls later in the day, when he got home. No doubt, that some perverts would take a lot of pictures of the girls and put them on a board, where it would be forever ensured, that he could keep a memory of this wonderful day.

As Hachiman let his eyes wander up and down the street, two other girls cosplaying as foxes walked past him. Maybe foxes were in? As Irani Okami also were served by white foxes, maybe the café also should have some fox girls? After all a temple was expensive to drive, so a cosplay café was not an excuse for having girls going around in costumes for his pleasure, but a cunning business plan.

Two other foxes
"He looked familiar, Senko" said the white fox.

"Who, Shiro?" responded the yellow fox.

"The boy who drooled over us just a minute ago. He reminds me of the priest at a temple, where I served as a Miko, when I was just a young one-tail running around carelessly with ought a thought. He has the same eyes as that priest had. The priest was such a pervert. Always a bad excuse for grabbing us, tearing off our cloth and landing on us, when we were battling demons. So annoying" replied the white fox.

The yellow fox replied: "I thought you still were running around with ought a thought?".

The bickering started.

The chief
It had taken him a long time to climb the ladder of bureaucracy, but at last he got to the place, where he should find his answers, or so he had thought. Surely, the chief of the Public Security Intelligence Agency would have access to all the dirty information of the State. Unfortunately, it was not the case.

For he had still no clues regarding, who had killed his old captain, and the captain's wife. He had long suspected the old priest, the former husband of the captain's wife. But now the priest was gone the same way. A fire without survivors and without any clues of the perpetrator. And the captain and the old priest was not singularities. There were a lot of cases with the same M.O. Cases who mostly was ended with a note of not doing anything more, due to the lack of evidence. If he didn't know better, one could believe that a ninja clan still was active – outside of theme parks.

Fortunately, since the gas attack in Tokyo, it had become possible to keep a discreet watch with sects and priests, so he had used that to ensure that there always was a watch on the heir. Whoever was behind the killings, would one day show themselves. Every kill had a reason, even if it was only the psychopath who knew it. Nobody was perfect. And he was a patient man. His old captain had taught him that art, when they were out in the field. Most of the time in the field was spent waiting, followed by a short time of action. And after that, hopefully, you would leave the field alive.

But the reports about the heir's activities could be more interesting. He didn't remember his own youth being that boring. Actually, it seemed like that the cat in the family was luckier than the heir in its business. It caught a lot of mice, according to the reports, while the heir didn't see the opportunities around him for good hunting.

Well, as the captain's wife had said one day at a party in the mess: "Cats and men have the interest of hunting, sleeping and eating in common. The difference is that the cat is a useful animal, since it catches mice. Males are not skilled at catching mice".

If the heir was an example of the young males of Japan today, it was no wonder, that they were dying out as a people.

Hayama-san

He had bribed the highest and the lowest, had ensured building permits in protected areas and that tenant was chased out from their houses by the Yakuza, so the area could be redeveloped. He had ensured that innocent was put away on the death-row, while psychopath was released to the street. All had the right to his legal advice, if they could pay his price, and he could handle anything and anyone.

But the maze, that was the temple, had him humbled. It was a masterpiece. It was even more beautiful, than the Potemkin village, that his wife and brother in law had inherited from their father.

Of course, he had lived in the village for years without discovering the truth before it was too late. He had been so happy when he had been accepted into the oldest and most prestigious lawyer company in Chiba because of his first character from Todai. Chiba, where he had grown up, would be forced to recognize him, the poor boy with glasses, who was always studying and who was either ignored, if he was lucky, or bullied by the riajuu.

He had quickly raised to the position of partner, had grateful accepted a proposal to marry the chairman's daughter, even if it was understood, that they would live separate lives in the manor with separate bedrooms. After all, no man had ever touched his wife, and just who had contributed the seed to "their" son, he didn't know, and was not interested in knowing, probably some sensitive artist, by the way "their" son behaved. But "their" son was just another building in the village, demanded by his father in law. Continuity and tradition are important in keeping up the appearance and the family honor.

And then the builder of the village died, and he was left to be the caretaker. Loans, especially illegal ones of their own client's accounts, had been used by his father in law to create the illusion of wealth since the sixties, where the family had run out of real money because of bad investments.

He had been forced to do many things to keep the village up, while solving the fundamental problems, including the stupidity of his wife and her brother.

And then, when everything had seemed to be handled, including having his brother in law put out to pasture, the mayor had been caught, and the illusions, he had so carefully maintained, was about to unravel again.

He was saved, when the temple fell into his lap. Of course, he would have to give a cut to his connection, who had ensured the work for him, another special consultant on the payroll, but the amount of money he would be able to bill for handling of the estate would cover the cost of the village for years. And if he could become the boy's attorney, the village would go from illusion to reality.

But first he had to finish the estate.

The letters from banks in Panama, Cayman Islands and Hong Kong, he could understand. They would take time, but the letter from the Swiss Bank. How had the temple being able to open an account in Geneva through Dutch traders before Japan had been open by Commodore Perry and his black ships, and just what had the temple hidden in the bunker of that bank?

That alone was more confusing, than how an old man on a mountain far out in the country had been able to buy and sell shares of companies, no Japanese had ever heard about, before the companies had gone multinational: Appel, Microsoft and Google, among others, and not to mention the Chinese companies, who clearly had been the interested of the priest in the last two decades, most of them in mining, energy and electronic. The cornerstones of every modern superpower. It was as if the head-priest had been in possession of a crystal ball, where you could see the future.

Unfortunately, no such item was mentioned in the lists of temples property. There was nothing to do but to eat the elephant one bit at a time. The letters from the banks in Panama first.

A dagger

The policeman entered the evidence locker with a box, bringing another evidence of infamy to the shelves, where it would wait with so many other items, until a judge called for it. And this item would probably be called fast.

They have had calls from the neighbors to the family about loud noises and shouting before, but as with so many other domestic episodes, and because of the standing of the family, there had never been a charge. But this time. After all a murder of this kind was probably all over the front pages of the media already.

The worst of it was how the Police could explain that the dagger, which had been used in the grisly murder of the oyabun of Chiba, now had been used in another murder, when it should have been safely stored at the Tokyo national museum. This would bring all the crazies out of the woods, a feast of conspiracy theories. They would probably claim it carried a curse, and had a soul, because of its age. The policeman put the box on a table, open it, and wrapped a cloth around the black dagger in the box. Then took the dagger up and looked at it. There was something glittering about it, like the blood still was on it, even if the lab had cleaned the dagger to ensure all the evidence. It was so small, so beautiful, so dangerous. But at least nobody would actually miss the chief of staff. Everybody knew he was a weakling who let the foreigner devils do whatever they wanted on the holy soil of Japan. The light in the dagger started to intensify.

Flying

Hachiman looked down at the landscape below him, and by doing that, found out that he was flying, in the air, and not by being in an airplane. It was some time since he last had a flying dream.

He looked on his clothes. They were his normal everyday clothes. No cape, no shining numbers, no POW POW as a sound effect from him blasting demons from the sky.

Well, he had a lot of flying dreams, when he suffered from that hint of an 8'th grader syndrome, as so many boys did at that age. Source: Myself.

But he was much more mature now, he had stopped putting names in his notebook People to Kill. Now he did as other responsible men. Remember the names of those who wronged him, and waited by the river to enjoy, when their bodies sailed pass. Hopefully, that was a symbol of wisdom, not of him turning into a wage slave.

So, what did a young adult man seek in a flying dream? No, there were no beautiful young ladies flying around, a pity. An angel or two would be nice. He wouldn't mind being Tomoki, although he was not a pervert.

Or maybe some kitsune. The foxes of Irani Okami, after all, had the ability to fly, as they were the messengers of the goddess. It had been a disappointment, that he never found pictures of the kitsune, tanuki and weasel combo. There had been pictures of 3 nice girls, who could be them, but they must have changed out of their costumes shortly after he saw them. What a pity. Nice girls were to be hated. They were the harbinger of doom. Cosplaying girls were to be treasured. They were the image of dreams, you hoped one day would come true, but knew never would be. Dreams that could not hurt you.

Hachiman looked down again. A lot of black trucks had become visible in the landscape. Hachiman flew after the trucks. Suddenly he was over a rally. Thousand and thousand were screaming and shouting.

Two women's and some men were sitting on a large stand, dressed in banners of white chrysanthemum and the rising sun. A man standing by a rostrum on the stage was saying something and then made a gesture. The youngest of the two women from her chair and went to the rostrum. The sounds of the rally increased, as the people increased their screaming and shouting by seeing her taking the rostrum.

Hachiman focused and looked at the girl. What was the Ice-Queen doing here, dressed? Normally she was quite naked in his dreams, but then this was a flying dream, not one, when he had to clean himself and the sheets subsequently. What was worse, she was smiling, and looking happy. She never was smiling in his dreams, except when she was hurting him, and those smiles was of a particular kind. Right, those were nightmares, not the good kind of dreams, except he still had to wash himself and his sheets afterward.

Yukinoshita started to speak. Hachiman tried to follow her statements; it was politic of cause. Yukinoshita did love to speak to people about how they could do better. No wonder, she looked happy. Her twisted nobility at work again. And why should the less fortunately listen to her about article 9 and the need to ensure that members of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere and other friends of Japan could trust the promises of the rising sun to stand by them in need.

Right, there was a history exam Monday. This was turning into one of those nightmares. At least in this one he was not running naked through the streets chased by the Ice-queen and with Sablé yapping at his ankles.

Hachiman moved his look away from Yukinoshita and once more looked upon the persons sitting behind the Ice-queen. The older women now became clearer. Wow, she was a knockout. An air of beauty, elegance and magic enclosed her, and her - tails. Tails? One, two, three.. Oh, nine.

He had also forgotten to read the manuscript. One more thing to do before Monday. Bloody Monday.

The nine-tailed moved her hand and put it on the leg of a sour and dour looking man sitting beside her, who was clearly sleeping. The man woke up, looked at the women, and then turned his head, and looked directly at him.

Those eyes, they were frightening. He had seen those eyes before - in his mirror. Ugh, maybe there was still a bit of the 8'th grader syndrome in him.

The sound of the keisaku hitting him brought him back. Shit, did the man had to him so hard every time? He may not feel the pain so much anymore, but it took time for his bruises to disappear. And explaining why he had them was a chore.

The man

The man looked at the boy. The boy's eyes showed he was out in la la land. Good, the boy was starting to open up.

At first, he had nearly despaired of his mission. The boy's attitude and mind were simply too logical to be suited for the mysteries, and the boy had to be ready by New Year. But then the local witch girl had been able to get something out of the boy.

Well, she had carrots, and they often worked better with boys after all. He had only the rod, and it was time to bring the boy back. The man smashed the boy with the keisaku.

The Prime II

The prime looked at the number on the paper, and then on his special political advisor, aka senior spin doctor, with disbelief.

"Right, how, in all of Japan, has the old fool of a state minister of dialog with the faith, managed to become the most popular member of the cabinet since the last measurement 3 month ago? He had never been mentioned before on the top ten before".

"Yes, prime. That is actually one of the reasons. He is a fresh face, unused, which the tv-station likes" the spin doctors answered: "And then there is the fact, that he talks nicely with everyone. No matter how nuts the show is, he always agrees with the other guests and audience, and has a suitable anecdote about a spirit, ghost or demon to illustrate the subject of the show. Perfect for a nice morning show or late-night show. He didn't even lose his patience, when he had a conversation with a crazy young guy, who claimed he had fallen in love with - and would marry - a teacup, who manifest as a beautiful young lady. The state minister actually recommended a shine for the ceremony".

"So, loved by all the nutcases?" asked the prime.

"More than that", continued the spin-doctor: "He also polls well by the homemakers. After all, he is the model for a father in law: Rich, cultured and a widow. No annoying mother-in-law. Suitable for any dinner table. And then there is the issue about the Heavenly Dragon Hoard. The treasure had created a lot of interest, especially the black dagger of Tamamo-no-Mae".

"Tamano-no-Mae? What has she to do with the popularity of the old fool, and with the two grisly murders, the dagger has been used in?" the prime questioned.

"Noting, but the name has caught on," responded the spin-doctor: "As part of the investigations of the murders, the Agency has actually traced the origin of the name to the manga club of Sobu High School. They are quite known for their imaginative stories, even if they normally are about boy-love rather than brutal murders".

"Well, better boy-love than murders" the prime grumbled: "Sobu High, that is the school with the boy. How it is going with the museum and the media about it?" the prime continued.

"Quite well in regard to raising private capital to the museum. The challenge is the estate. There seems to be a lot of things to clear up in the temple foundation, before we can make it public" the spin-doctor explained.

"Or the lawyers are trying to pull it out, to increase their pay. Lean on them. The faster we can announce it, the more we can gain on the popularity of the Heavenly Dragon Hoard" the prime responded.

"Undoubtedly prime. But we had already been fortunate with the boy. It seems that he is the cause of a march for the environment and animal right in Chiba.

It has gained a lot of attention, because most of the schools in Chiba are participating and the pupils will be dressed as animals, so all the parents and grandparents will come to watch the parade and that draws the media.

But we are the ones, who is actually running it. Our local Diet member is the main speaker at the event, so he has a good chance to gain a more positive reputation among the voters, which he needs, if we shall maintain that seat" the spin-doctor said with a smile, of the evil kind.

"Nice for Yukinoshita, but I thought that his environment idea is to cover everything in cement?" the primed joked: "You're better ensure that his speech is much greener and keep an eye on the boy. If he is going to be an asset, we must keep him somewhat clean and acceptable for the voters. We could use some younger people to capture the youth segment, the rebels are, after all, always more interesting for youngsters than the authorities".

"Yes, prime", the spin-doctor responded.