15 June 2010
Yasogami High School, Gymnasium
After School

"You gotta tell me!" Chie pleaded with Midori as she helped her senior put away the tennis club's equipment. "Please! Tell me how you did it!"

Midori wanted to berate herself for her foolishness, but nothing would come of it. She had made a mistake, and was now suffering through the results of it. "No."

"You have to! You promised you'd teach me, and I want to learn that!"

"What makes you think you can even learn it in the first place? If it was easy, then wouldn't more people be able to do it?"

"I know! But I'm the best in town. And none of the clubs are good enough for me." That much wasn't completely true as some of the other captains had approached Midori to 'deal' with the errant student who was not a fit for any of the current sports clubs. She had accepted, though she had no clue how to go about doing it.

How to create a 'fighting' aura. That was what was being demanded of her. Her impromptu show with Frosty had unforeseen consequences. "This isn't like learning from a video," she said, trying to find some line that would work. "You don't just practise a kick for, like, a thousand times, and suddenly you can intimidate people."

Chie rolled her eyes. "Duh! That's why you got to teach me! Please!"

Different track then. "How social are you?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Answer the question!"

"I've got Yukiko as my friend, and a couple others."

"That's part of the problem right there."

"Huh? What does being social and having friends have to do with martial arts?"

Midori sighed. "Alright, let me explain this in simple words then. It's. Not. Physical. It. Is. Mental. You can't intimidate people if you don't know them, how they think, and how they feel at a glance." She looked around to make sure they weren't being spied upon. "I can do it because I'm good enough at reading people that I can make myself as threatening as possible with as little action as possible. The rest," she tapped Chie on the forehead, "is up here."

"WHA!?"

"And that's why you can't learn it," Midori was confident that her instructions had no applicability toward the actual goal, but rather, if Chie went for it, she would be out of her hair personally and being nicer to a whole lot of other people. Multiple problems with one action!

"That's your summer goal. Make friends, get to know how people think and act and react to what you do. If. IF! I see improvement, then I can teach you the next step."

"You're seriously going to leave me for months!"

"Satonaka!" Midori snapped at her, glad there was no one around to witness the outburst. "You think this is easy? That I just wave a magic wand and you learn a new technique? That there is some scroll to read?"

"Well..."

"No. It's not." Midori sighed, treading on poor ground. "So I'm giving you an assignment, and I expect you to carry it out. If you can't even do that, I'll make sure you never reach your goal."

Front Gate

Saki looked at her friend as the two of them headed for the Shopping District, and Midori's part-time job. "You look annoyed."

"I am."

"Why?"

"Chie Satonaka."

"Ah." That was all that was to be said really. The first year was something else. "Oh, hey, look. Some boy is going for the Challenge."

True to expectation, the two of them stopped and watched as some poor first year approached Yukiko Amagi and offered to be in a relationship with her, only to be ignorantly shot down in flames.

"And another one bites the dust," Midori said in English. "Why is it that she gets all the offers anyways?"

"Well," Saki said, "apparently the guys have decided that you are not to be approached until Yukiko is taken. Something about the proper order of things."

Midori turned on her friend, aghast. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Oh god, there goes my chances of a boyfriend before University."

06 July 2010
Central Shopping District
Evening

Kanji locked the door behind him, having already sent his Ma home with the usual promise that he would have everything cleaned up. Giving the shutters one more shake for good measure, he checked his bag and started to walk down to the bottom of the hill, where he would turn to head home.

"Yo, dude. You got a moment?" Kanji turned around, not recognizing the voice. Behind him was a man who was slouching, looking around like he was either lost, or looking for something. But something about him just screamed that he was dangerous.

"What can I help you with?" Kanji was bigger than this guy, and if worst came to worse, he knew he could take him, or make his life miserable. But first, he had to be polite. No sense in giving people the idea that he was a delinquent before hitting high-school.

"Hey man. Name's Tadashi Nikaido. Friends call me Kaido. I'm from out of town, and I'm looking for a... friend. I've got the address, but I don't know where that is." Kaido reached into his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper which he handed over to Kanji.

Taking it, Kanji read it and thought the address looked familiar. Like it was for someone who worked in the district...

Then it clicked. It was where the Priestess lived!

"She has a boyfriend?" He said aloud as he handed the paper back to Kaido. "Never knew that."

"He was my brother, actually." Kaido admitted. "I'm just in town checking up on her, then I'm headed back to Tokyo."

Kanji felt something was off about this. "It's on my way home, I'll show you." That way, if something went wrong, he would be right there to help out. He could show this Kaido person where, then stick around, just in case.

The two of them walked toward the address, not talking to each other. There wasn't a need for pleasant conversation, though the sky looked like it was going to rain, so Kanji kept his umbrella handy, just in case.

They arrived, and Kaido bowed politely to Kanji, who returned the gesture. "Thanks, man. I owe you one."

"I don't know if they're home," Kanji warned, already having picked out a spot to wait near the apartment.

"If she isn't, then that's no biggie. I can come back in a couple weeks." Kanji looked at the apartment door, girding himself for action. Then it started to rain.

Looking up, he let the water wash over him. "You know what? Showing up wet when it's raining ain't the best thing for me. I'll try again tomorrow." He turned to Kanji, "Hey man, can you tell me where I can find a hotel or someplace I can go for the night?"

Kanji relaxed. "Yeah, sure." And if they were walking away, then he had no problems sharing his umbrella. As long as no one saw them.

Tatsumi Residence

Kanji stepped in, shaking out his umbrella. After seeing Kaido off, he rushed home, plan already in place. "Hey Ma?"

"Yes, dear?" His mother said from the kitchen. "How was closing?"

"Good. Hey, you got the phone number for the girl who runs the shrine?" He knew that she probably did, being on the Business Association.

"Of course. Why?" There was a hint of worry in her voice.

"Some dude came by the store after I closed up. Had her address, and said he was the brother of her boyfriend. He went to a hotel after it started raining though. I figured I'd give her a call and let her know before he heads there in the morning."

His mother came out of the kitchen, drying her hands. "You're right. I'll make the call, and we'll see if we can sort this out. What was the man's name?"

"Tadashi Nikaido."

Komaki Residence

The doorbell rang, and Mamoru got up from his work to answer. Midori was over at Ryotaro's place this evening, so he wasn't expecting any of her friends to show up unannounced. It may be one of the neighbours though, so he made sure that he was presentable when he opened the door.

"Amane?" He said surprised, doubly so when he glimpsed the small bag held behind her under rain beating on her umbrella. "Come in, come in." He invited the priestess in, taking the bag from her. He knew there was a problem. "What's happening?"

"Is Midori here?" She asked as she collapsed her umbrella and placed it in the stand. "I need to ask a favour of her."

"Well, if it involves borrowing a room for the night, you're welcome to it." Mamoru said without needing anything else. "But Midori's a couple doors down, babysitting."

"Ah, the Dojima's. Yes, I know the place." Amane looked awkwardly at the father of her friend. "You don't want to know why?"

Mamoru gave her a glare. "You show up at my home with a bag and in the rain, I'm going to be the polite host first, then get the details later. Did you want some tea? Or hot chocolate?"

"Tea, please. Are you sure I won't be a bother?"

"Nah. We have the room to spare. The people who built this house gave me way more than was needed for just the two of us." He showed her to the living room before returning to the kitchen to prepare the drinks. "You want me to call her over? I'm sure that if Nanako isn't in bed already, she'll take of that right quick."

"No, that won't be necessary."

Amane watched the news on the television as Mamoru returned with the kettle and tea. "So, you ready to explain why the sudden change in sleeping arrangements?"

"Ah," Amane had taken the time to think this particular request through. "You know that I board with Mari?"

"Mari-sensei? Yes." He poured out enough for the both of them. "She kicked you out?"

"No, not like that." She sighed. "Rather there is a man in town from Tokyo whom she does not want to see. He already knows where she lives, and rather than have me involved, asked me to step out for a day or so until she gets this sorted out."

Mamoru didn't like that one bit. "Well, you're welcome in our house." He said, knowing that his daughter wouldn't have a problem with that at all. I can set you up to share with Midori, if you don't mind."

"As long as she doesn't." Amane was glad that she had chosen rightly for her first pick. "Thank you again for your kindness." She bowed as was proper.

"Of course," Mamoru replied. "It is only proper." He looked up at the clock. "If you'll excuse me though, I'll head upstairs and take care of some things. Help yourself to the tea." He stood and headed for the second floor. "Just call if you need anything."

"Thank you."

Yasoinaba Police Station

Detective Kodai put down the phone. "Hey, Shoji!" He called out down the row of tables. "You remember that call we got from the Tatsumi family?"

"Yes. About the guy from out of town?" Officer Shoji was taken the call at the front desk earlier in the evening, though it had been decided to do nothing about it at this time as nothing criminal had happened yet.

"Well, we just got a call from the Komaki's,"

"The who?"

"They live like, three doors down from Ryotaro. The daughter is Ryo's babysitter."

"Oh! Right! I think I remember them."

"Well, I just got a call from them on Ryo's line. It seems like the Miko who lives with the doctor, the one that our out-of-towner was looking for, found out about this guy and decided that she needed to crash over at the Komaki place instead."

That got the younger officer's attention. "That doesn't sound good."

"No. It doesn't. Go to the break room and grab Dojima and maybe a couple volunteers. We're going to straighten this mess out."

Inaba Municipal Hospital

Mari looked down town the long counter that was her duty station for the night. "Ueharu-san?" she asked, addressing the night shift head nurse, "How is the paperwork coming along?"

"Slowly," the nurse replied. "I keep getting distracted by Room 304." She flipped over one sheet of paper on her clipboard to start on the next. "And I have another round to make in 5 minutes."

"You keep working on that," Mari said, indicating the never-finished pile of papers. "I'll do the rounds for you."

Nurse Ueharu only nodded. "Thank you, doctor."

Mari's preparations for that were, however, stopped when the elevator across from her dinged and two police officers stepped out. She recognized the elder as Kodai, while the younger man, still middle-aged, she thought she knew, but couldn't place a name to it. "Detectives," she bowed in greeting, seeing the nurse start to straighten things out with the new presence. "How can we help you?"

Kodai glanced down at Ueharu, who caught the intent and stepped away. "I'll start the rounds," she announced, sorry that her work got interrupted, but not so much that she felt bad with the two detectives here to talk to the Doctor. That was never a good sign.

"Do you know a 'Kaido'?" Kodai asked quietly, but driving straight to the heart of the matter.

Mari froze for a moment, which was enough of an answer that the old detective needed. "Damn." He reached for his radio. "Shoji? Head for her place and keep an eye out."

"Wait? What? What's going on?" Mari demanded, though not loudly as there were still patients on her floor.

"We had a call earlier tonight that a man by that name was looking for you, and had your address. The citizen was suspicious, but we weren't going to do anything until the Miko found out."

"Amane? Is she safe?" Mari was honestly worried now, far too many visions of things going wrong in her head.

"She is," the other detective said. "She's with the Komaki family right now. Apparently a message got left on their answering machine from said citizen, and she reacted by getting out of the apartment. Once we found out about that, we couldn't sit by."

Amane was with Midori. That was a relief.

"Do you want to talk somewhere private?" Kodai offered gently.

"No, No." Mari leaned against the counter. "I'm sorry, I should have expected this."

"Well, give us a reason, and we'll make sure that this man spends the night in a cell," the old man offered.

"No!" Mair looked up in shock. Kodai was serious about his offer. "Let me explain first."

She told them that he was actually the brother of her boyfriend, one who had been killed over a year previously. He had taken his promise to look after her to his brother very seriously, and while he wasn't a nice person, he wasn't about to harm her, or anyone.

"Then why did the priestess leave your place?" Kodai asked.

"She has met him before, and they do not like each other," Mari lied. "And I don't think she wanted to meet him again, nor get between him checking up on me."

"So," Dojima said as he checked his notes, "you're saying that we don't need to do anything? That this is still a domestic issue?"

Mari nodded. "He's likely in town just to see how I'm doing, then will leave once he's assured of my well-being."

Kodai and Dojima shared a glance. "Alright then. We'll call back our men from your apartment and relax." He bowed slightly. "Sorry for the rudeness, but we had to be sure."

"Of course. Have a good evening, both of you." Mari said. "Now I just have to call Amane and let her know she can not worry."

The two detectives returned to the elevator, and waited for the doors to close before speaking. "So, we headed for the hotel now?" Ryotaro asked.

"I'm not sure. She obviously doesn't want to talk to this Kaido person. This could just be us over reacting."

Dojima could see the point. "Sure, which it would be except that Amane decided it was better to leave the apartment."

"Perhaps we should talk to her then?"

"Midori is at my place, so I think we can do a quick interview before she comes home." Ryotaro didn't like the idea of coming to his friend's house like this, but couldn't see an option.

"Don't worry, Ryo. We'll just confirm the story, then apologize to people for the reaction." He pulled out his radio. "Shoji, change of plans. We've got an interview out of the way, and it's just a domestic. We're going to take care of the rest of it, so you guys can head back to the station. Thanks for coming out."

"Of course Detective," the rain over Shoji was clear on the channel. "Are you heading back yourselves?"

"Not yet, we just have a loose end to clear up first."

Komaki Residence

The doorbell rang again, and this time, Mamoru was expecting it. "I'll be right back," he told Amane, before answering it.

"Detectives," He greeted the two men formally. "I'm sorry for this."

"There is no problem," Kodai said as he stepped in. "Ryo, why don't you go check on your daughter? I'll talk with the Priestess, and with just me and not both of us, this won't be official."

"You sure?"

"Go!" Kodai gestured, smiling. "The less official this is, the quicker it gets done."

Ryotaro fought with himself, duty versus family, before family won out with the permission of his superior. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

Kodai let himself be led around the corner and into the living room, where Amane was looking at him with a mix of annoyance and more annoyance. "Is this really necessary?" Her question was marked by a sharp glare at Mamoru.

"Don't blame him, we actually got a couple calls about this. We just want to make sure that this isn't really an issue before we all get back to work."

The priestess crossed her arms. "What do you want to know?"

"What is the relation between Kaido and Mari-sensei?"

"He's her former fiancé's brother."

"Thank you." Kodai bowed. "Just had to confirm that. "Just so you know though, that if this does become a problem, we're available to resolve it." He stepped back to allow Mamoru to re-enter the living room. "I'll be off then."

07 July 2010

Central Shopping District

After School

"Ah, there you are!" Midori and Saki stopped as they passed by the Tatsumi store. The matron of that place stepped out and greeted the two girls. "Midori-chan, thank you again for letting poor Amane stay at your place."

"It was my father's doing," Midori said, still annoyed her her daddy for what he did. Offer Amane a room for the night? Gladly! Share with Midori herself? Acceptable. Getting the police involved? She was still sore over that, partly a reflection of Amane's response.

"Be that as it may, it was good of you to get involved and help." The woman bowed. "Do let us know if there is anything else that needs to be done."

"Of course," Midori replied. "But if you'll excuse me, I need to get to my job quickly." She pointed a finger up the road. "Saki is waiting impatiently."

"Ah yes. Well, have a nice day."

Konishi Liqueurs
Evening

Mister Konishi watched as Midori attacked the floor with a furiousness he hadn't seen before. News of the man looking for the Shrine Maiden last night had spread through the entire district, and that she had retreated to the Komaki place while that man and the doctor talked was an open secret. "You alright?" he asked, wincing slightly as she almost slammed the mop back into the bucket.

"I'm fine. Annoyed with daddy, but that will pass."

That was that then. He knew exactly what he had to do, and letting her mop her frustrations away wasn't it. "I've got deliveries to make, Midori. Finish what you've got there, and meet me out back. You're going to help."

That got her attention. "What?"

"Just what I said," he repeated. "Saki's busy, so I'd like you to help with the deliveries."

"Oh." Midori was surprised. "Alright."

About fifteen minutes later, Midori was at the back of the store, helping to load some crates into the family truck. It wasn't hard work, just repetitive as she had to help load up a couple hundred bottles in various states of packaging. "Where does all this go anyways?"

"Places," Konishi replied as he shuffled stuff around. "You're coming with me, so you'll start to learn."

"Hold on," Midoir objected as she handed off the next set of bottles. "I'm coming with you?"

"Yep!"

"But I just clean!"

"Yes, and there's more to everything than that."

"But cleaning! And homework!"

"And Naoki is being punished a bit, so you're coming along."

Oh. It wasn't her then. "Alright. Do I need anything?"

"Nothing special."

Soon Midori was riding in the passenger seat as the small truck pulled out of the back alley, then turned out onto the road. "How long is this going to take?"

"No more than an hour then. Plenty of time for us to get back, have supper, then the two of you to work on your schoolwork." Midori nodded in response.

About halfway through, the two of them had finished delivering a few cases of beer to one of the local farms when Konishi tossed Midori the keys. "Get it, I'm going to show you how to drive."

"What!?" Midori cried out as she held the things in her hand, looking at them like they were going to bite her. "Drive? I'm 16!"

"Yes, and that's a good age to start," he replied as he walked past her to the passenger side of the truck. "I've already cleared it with your Pa, and he thinks it's a good idea. Something about being able to have you drive him to the train station, and back."

"But!" She looked at the keys, fixated on them. "Why wouldn't he teach me?"

Konishi shrugged. "Doesn't have the time, I suppose. I did make him promise that he would be there when you get your license. Until then, we have a large stretch of empty road, and practice ahead of us."

08 July 2010
Central Shopping District, Tatsuhime Shrine
After School

"Why do I have to feed the Fox?" Midori grumbled as she pulled out the meat that Amane had asked her to get. In the wake of Kaido's visit, the three of them had, well, not reacted well, though for different reasons. Amane was scared that he had found out about her, and when that was proven false, she tried to relax, but just couldn't.

"And of course she wants to stay the extra night at my place," Midori looked around for the local land-demon, "Hey, Fox! Food!" She held up the offerings while waiting for the thing to arrive.

And while Mari was better off, she was still a little shaken that he had come all the way out to Yasoinaba to check up on her. That the police had gotten involved due to the reactions of certain people just made things worse, and she had taken a day off from the hospital to cool down.

Leaving Midori, who was still feeling sick that Kaido was in town, and that he was... well... she didn't know how to react to that, except that she did feel sick.

"I hope I'm not really sick," she commented to no one in particular as she started to circle the shrine, looking for that damned Fox. "That would just suck."

Having circled the shrine, and made her way back to the donation box, she took a quick glimpse inside to see if it was sleeping in there instead. No, it wasn't. She sighed. "Great. No fox either. Probably at my place lounging in the yard or something while Amane sulks."

Of course she couldn't get out of her commitments as easily as the other two. And there was no way she was going to react badly around Nanako, now that she was watching over her a few nights a week. So she just had to bury her desires and be someone who wasn't directly affected by this at all.

"You're here too?" Kaido said, honestly surprised. "Shit, I shouldn't be here."

Midori froze at the sound of the voice, but with the realization that yes, it was him, and yes, he was standing right behind her, she lashed out.

A quick straight punch almost connected with Kaido's face as she spun around. But he barely had time to react as he jerked backwards. "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Peace!" He stepped back again as Midori looked like she was going to rip his throat out. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were here."

"Get out, you murderer." She hissed as she advanced one step toward him, forcing Kaido back a step to avoid getting into range of a fight. "Leave!"

"I'm leaving! I'm leaving!" Kaido didn't turn and run, but he did back out onto the street where Midori stopped on the edge of the shrine. "I'm sorry. I really am."

"Get out!"

Kaido left, not saying another thing, but not running either.

Kanji watched this from the front of the store, though he didn't hear much of anything, it was easy to see what was happening. "Ma, I'm stepping out for a moment." He didn't bother removing the apron as he jogged down the hill to the shrine.

Midori was still standing there, shaking like a tree in a storm, more than shivering, less than spasming. She didn't see Kanji as he came up to her, instead turning back into the shrine and walking off the path toward a tree.

"Hey, Midori-san?" He asked as she punched the tree. Hard. He winced at the force of the hit as it rattled the tree's branches. He didn't expect the girl to be so strong, not with those arms of hers.

"Hey?" He said again, a little louder as she hit this poor tree again. "Oh, to hell with this." Midori wound up for a third strike when Kanji grabbed her arm with one hand. She may have surprising strength, but that was no match to his. "Stop it before you hurt yourself!"

Midori rounded on him, twisting in his light grip to slap him. The strike was sharp, and little painful, but Kanji put on his best impassive demeanour and took it.

Then she saw who she had hit, and Midori lost all tension as she realized what she had done. "Oh no! Sorry!" She looked at Kanji's face, where the red mark of her strike was still forming. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Kanji let her go. "I kinda brought that on myself, what with grabbing you like that." He apologized honestly. "But what the hell happened? That guy do anything to you?" He was already considering chasing him down and laying into the out-of-towner, all he needed was an excuse.

It wouldn't help his reputation though, but who cares about that?

"No, nothing like that." Midori slouched, knowing that poor Kanji was just trying to help, even if he didn't know all the details. Couldn't know all the details either. "It's just... I can't talk about it."

That set off more alarms in Kanji's head. And looking at the girl in front of him, he knew what he had to do. "Why don't you head on up to the store," he offered. "Get something to drink from Ma." He looked around. "I'll take care of things here, then be right back."

Kanji gently led her to the entrance to the shrine, and gave her a slight shove up the hill to set her in motion. Then he slipped off his apron and started to walk down past the other stores. He was going to have a talk with this man from Tokyo.

Samegawa Flood Plain

Kaido was many things, but an unobservant idiot wasn't one of them. He knew he was being followed, and rather than hop on the bus for the train station like he had intended to do (why he stayed the extra day, he had no idea. Although he had decided to justify it to his guys when he got back as saying quite truthfully that the place was beautiful when it wasn't raining).

Out on the open ground of the riverbank, he chose to make a stand.

"Something you want?" He said, turning around to face his pursuer, the young man who helped him out two nights ago.

"Yeah. What's up with you?"

The crazy cosplay girl has a boyfriend, Kaido concluded. Great. "Look, friend, I didn't do anything. There's just some bad blood between your girlfriend and me, and I decided to walk away rather than get into a fight over it."

Kanji was confused. Girlfri... "She's not!" He objected. "Look, what ever you did"

Kaido stopped him right there. "Whatever I did? Look man, you don't know what I did. And you really don't. What happened between me and that girl," he wasn't about to make the mistake of their relation again, "stays between us. It's for her and I to deal with or leave alone. Not for some man like yourself to get involved in."

"That ain't the impression I got." Kanji said, taking in the smaller Kaido. He knew he shouldn't get into a fight, but if the rumours going around were true, the cops would pretty much turn a blind eye for once.

But Kaido wasn't in for a fight, even as he sized up his opponent. Not someone he would want to get into a scrape with, even if the other guy didn't have a massive home-ground advantage. It would be better to run.

"I don't know what impression you got, but I'll say it again. What's between me and her is between me and her. She don't need no samurai to defend her." Kaido kept his hands in his pockets to avoid escalating. He could tell that this guy was ready for a fight, but wasn't willing to throw the first punch either. It was good control, and on another day, he would be impressed with it. But not when he was the target. "Look," he said calmly, "I'm leaving. I'm going to hop on the bus and go to the train station and leave. You can come with me to make sure, if you want." He extended the invitation honestly. "And that way you'll be sure I'm gone."

Tatsumi Textiles

"No," Kanji's mother said as Midori finished her drink. "I don't think he'll start anything. He's such a nice boy."

Midori put down the cup, still shaking just a little. "I'm not worried about that. It's just... just..."

"My dear," she said, reaching out to put a calming hand on the teenager, "things will turn out for the best."

Midori didn't know what to say, her thoughts were just a massive jumble as far too many feelings and actions came rambling around. "Did you want me to call your uncle, as your father is out of town?" The matriarch offered kindly to her. "He can come pick you up."

"No, no." Midori didn't connect the word 'Uncle' with Dojima for a moment, but still made the negative. "It was just a bad surprise, and I reacted badly." Her apologetic explanation fell flat even as they passed her lips. But thankfully, Mrs. Tatsumi didn't seem to object. "I think I'll just head home and relax."

"You do that," she was gently commanded. "I'll talk with Kanji when all this is over."