Next chapter! Shoutout to Lotus nanase for reviewing and to Kistune Frame and that-one-girl549 for favouriting and following this story!I don't own most of the characters. They belong to Adachitoka sensei.
"Back off, kid!" the leader of the group snapped as he tried to reach towards me. "How dare you try to defile the goddess of love!" Akito shouted as he slammed a fist into the guy's face. Several teeth actually fell out of his mouth as the guy flew in the air, slamming into the wall. "Woah. Who the heck is this guy?!" one guys demanded. "He couldn't have heard her scream for him, didn't he?!" another guy said as he charged at Akito, who readied himself. "Come at me," he said as the guy hollered, running at him.
Akito slammed him in the gut, making him cry out in pain as he got kicked aside. "Get him!" the other guys yelled as they charged but Akito took them out with ease with his karate. He hit them one after another, sending them flying in all directions. I stared at the sight, my new Shinki protecting me from these guys. "Akito…" I whispered as he disposed of the last guy. All of them lay on the ground, groaning in pain. Some sobbed over broken bones. I had no idea Akito was that strong.
"I am so sorry! I shouldn't have left you alone like that!" Akito cried out as he got down on one knee. "No! It wasn't your fault! I came out here on my own accord!" I said as I tried to get him to stand. "I'm your only Regalia here so I have to protect you at all times, even if it costs me my life!" he shouted, his voice ringing in the air. We stood there in silence, the wind howling around us. "Akito…" I whispered as tears streaked down his face. "If only I hadn't got carried away by my emotions…" he whispered when a thought struck me. Impossible. Akito was the one who stung me?
"You're not getting away," a voice came and the leader of the group grunted as he stood on his feet. "I'm not letting you get away until I possess you!" he yelled. There was a loud shriek as the Phantom on his shoulder grew larger and larger until it became the size of a building. "I will have you!" they yelled as they charged at us. Akito kicked the guy in the head, sending him flying across the dirt. He hit the wall with a sickening slam and fell unconscious. "Akito…" I started to say when he grabbed my hand. "We have to go!" he shouted as we ran out.
The Phantom scurried after us, threatening to pierce us with its claws. "Call upon me!" Akito shouted as I tried to reorganise my thoughts. "Come! Denki!" I yelled as Akito soared through the sky and landed in my open palm. "On guard!" I yelled as I flew in the air and landed on the Phantom, who shrieked and spun. I prayed that no one could hear all the chaos happening here now. I sank Denki into it and it howled as I cut it. "Let's do this!" I shouted as I lifted my fingers.
You, who dare desecrate this Land of the Rising Sun! I, Aiko, lay waste with the Denki and expel thy defilement! Rend! I shouted as I slam into it. As I cut through it, it howled as it exploded in a shower of light. As I dropped to the ground, panting slightly, a thought crossed my mind. Did I just say rend? But I thought a Shinki only had one type of function… don't tell me Akito can both sever and mend relationships? I thought to myself as Akito gave a small cough.
"You okay?" I asked as I reverted him back. "Yeah," he said. "Wow, I didn't know you can rend," I said as he grinned. "Me neither… is that uncommon?" he asked. "Yeah, that is hell uncommon! Wow, you can do both?!" I said as I squeezed him. "Hey," he muttered as I held onto him, laughing at the fact we just survived one day of school and that I found out I had a very rare Shinki with two functions. Man, this is an awesome day.
"Thanks for saving me," I whispered in his chest. I could hear his heart thumping, slamming against his ribcage. "Uh… you're welcome," he stuttered as his temperature went up. "Oh, sorry," I said as I distangled myself from me. Man, why did I always hang onto him like that?! "Oi, Aiko-san! Akito-kun!" a voice called as Hiyori ran up to us, her lifeline swinging behind her. "What the heck happened?" she asked as she stopped, panting from the run. "Well, we just defeated a Phantom," we both said as one as she stared at us.
"A Phantom? Here in school?" she blurted. After I told her the entire story, she sighed as she sank down to the ground. "Man, it was the same for me last year too. I'm glad you're alright," she said. "It was my fault it happened. If I hadn't ran out and had you follow me," Akito said as I shook him. "Oi, how many times do I have to tell you you're innocent?! I shouldn't have started undressing I public!" I snapped as his face went red. "What were undressing yourself for?!" he blurted as I went scarlet. "Uh… none of your business! I just wanted to check if my bra was still on!" I said when I slapped myself. Why did I say that?!
Hiyori laughed as we continued our bickering. When we finally came to a halt, she stood up and shook the dust from her skirt. "We better get to class," she said but we stopped her. "I think we have had enough school for one day," I said. "But how are you going to explain your absence from here on?" Hiyori asked as I snapped my fingers. "Don't worry. Your friends and teacher won't remember we ever existed so don't worry. You better get back or you'll be late," I said as she checked her watch. "Oh shit!" she shrieked as she ran back to her class.
...
Akito and me walked down the street, back in our own daily clothes. "I forgot how much fun school was," Akito grinned as we walked back. "I didn't know it was so boring," I muttered. We passed by a park where some parents were watching their children play, the leaves swirling around them. "If you have friends to study with, its not too bad," he said. "What, you enjoyed yourself because Hiyori was there?" I asked as he laughed. "Nono. It was fun to see how bored you look throughout lessons," he smiled, tilting his head. I flushed a little at the comment.
As we walked, I wondered whether to ask him why he had even run out just now. Was that the reason why I had been blighted so suddenly? Speaking of blight… "Hey, let's stop over somewhere first," I said as we turned into a large shrine. Only when I passed it did I realize it was a bad idea. "Aiko!" a man yelled as he appeared in front of us, fuming. His hat was skewed and his eyes bloodshot. "Yo, Tenjin-sama. How are things going?" I asked, trying to smile a little.
"Oh very fine, thank you very much! I never worked overtime so much before! All those advice about breakups, I feel as though I have become the god of relationship counseling or something!" he snapped as I tried to hide my grin. "Hey, at least you're making a lot of money," I said as he rubbed his eyes. "Yawn… well I was about to take a cat nap. What do you want?" he asked as he yawned widely, his breath smelling of sake.
"I came here to get some holy water," I said as he narrowed his eyes. "Holy water? What do you require of it?" he asked as he looked at me and then Akito. "You her new Shinki?" Tenjin grinned as he glanced at Akito. "It's nice to meet, you, Tenjin-sama," Akito said, bowing slightly. "Tenjin will do fine. How is it like serving this madwoman so far?" he asked as I fumed. "Oi!" I said as Akito smiled. "She can be a handful sometimes but she's fine," he said. "Hey, I'm not your kid sister or something," I snapped as he laughed.
"Well, come along. I'll bring you to the well. You on the other hand…" Tenjin said, pointing a long finger at Akito, who gulped. "Have fun chatting with them," he grinned as a group of female Shinki burst out from within the shrine, all clambering to talk to me. "Oh! Its been a while since I last saw a hot male Shinki! What's your name?" one of them said as he blushed. "Akito," he said as she squealed. "Oh! That's so hot! I'm Nayu! Can I have your phone number?" another girl asked as they clambered to get near him. I giggled to myself as Akito tried to fend off the flood of women.
When Tenjin brought me to the well, I peeled off my shirt and dabbed my handkerchief in the water before bringing it to my chest. "So you got blighted right?" Tenjin asked as I hissed. The blight slowly disappeared but I could still feel a stinging pain in it. "Yeah. I don't know the cause of it though…" I said as I put my shirt back on. "Is it the boy?" he asked as I froze in the process of buttoning my shirt. "Don't include him in this," I said as I finished buttoning it.
"You know the rules Aiko. As the goddess of love, you should know better what happens if a Shinki falls in love with their master," Tenjin said as he stroked his beard. "I know the rules! You don't have to remind me of that!" I snapped as I started to walk away. "But its happening. Don't tell me you don't feel something about it?" Tenjin snapped. I wanted to hurl something at him for a moment, my hand shaking at my side. "I know the consequences," I said as I tried to still myself.
"My dear child. You suffered so much before because of it didn't you?" he said as I glared at him. "Precisely why I won't make the same mistake again," I said. I gripped the pendant around my throat, wanting to throw it out of sight but the thought of losing it also pained me. "I know what happened to you in the past but why would you risk repeating it again if you know what would befall upon you?" he asked as I turned to him. "I'm not an idiot," I said and Tenjin sighed. "I know but you must be careful. The boy is a fine one though. You caught a good one," Tenjin grinned as he eyed Akito, who was still surrounded by Tenjin's Shinki.
"Well, I better be off," I said as I walked away. "Where are you living by the way?" Tenjin asked. "With Yato," I said as he gaped at me. "You're living with the god of calamity and the god of poverty?! Do you know what a disastrous combo that is?!" he gasped as I pushed aside all the Shinki and grabbed Akito by the collar, dragging him with me. I didn't need to be told what to do. I won't let the past repeat itself again.