.
.
The crowd was getting on Takemikazuchi's nerves, and he leaned against the wall, glaring.
Once again, Bishamon was parading around her shinki. Bishamon had always been an insufferable woman, and somehow the last two colloquys they had both involved her.
That Kazuma brat annoyed him. Takemikazuchi's eyes narrowed. How that boy became a hafuri even when his Kiun couldn't was a source of irritation for him.
"Kazuma-kun," Takemikazuchi said. Kazuma looked up as Takemikazuchi sauntered toward him.
"Takemikazuchi-sama." Kazuma bowed, deferentially. Takemikazuchi smiled.
"Keeping your master on the right path, I hope?" he swirled his drink, watching Kazuma's face.
"Of course," Kazuma said, politely. Takemikazuchi took a slow drink from his cup, keeping his eyes trained on him.
That boy seemed ordinary enough. Even with that ridiculous gray military outfit, he still looked like a boy playing dress up. Not only was this boy a hafuri, but rumor had it this boy somehow managed to bed the great Bishamonten - the thought of it made his war blood boil.
"You know, I have always wondered how it was that you became a hafuri," Takemikazuchi said. "You are just an earring, away from enemy fire. I don't see how you could have risked your name."
"I obtained the help from a god of calamity," Kazuma said, mildly. "But I'm sure you've already heard the story."
Takemikazuchi took another long drink. He kept his eyes focused on him.
"Well. In either case, I'm sure you're serving your master swimmingly," Takemikazuchi said. He smiled. "Even if they say the way you serve her...is rather unsavory."
He watched Kazuma's face. There it was - that brief flicker of unease - that Takemikazuchi latched onto.
"I heard the rumors," Takemikazuchi said. He leaned closer.
"They say the great Bishamonten has taken her hafuri to her bed."
He watched. The boy stared heatedly at the floor.
Bishamon was talking with a few other gods when she felt a small prick at the back of her neck. She turned sharply. Takemikazuchi was talking to Kazuma in the corner.
"Bishamon?" the other gods looked at her. "Is something wrong?"
"A moment," Bishamon said, and she started to walk over.
"To think that the great Bishamonten pleasures herself with you. How preposterous!" Takemikazuchi said. "I think they're all lies, of course. I told those simpletons there is no way the great Bishamonten would be so depraved. After all, a god that lies with his shinki is no better than a farmer sleeping with one of his flock! But then again, your master can be a bit unusual."
He grinned, and saw how the boy's jaw tightened. His eyes were trained deferentially on the ground.
"Of course, only a god can be worthy of the great Bishamonten." Takemikazuchi started to leave, tucking his hands primly into his sleeves. "I suppose one shouldn't listen to those filthy rumors."
"It isn't a rumor," Kazuma said. Takemikazuchi stopped and turned.
"What did you say to me?" Takemikazuchi said.
"I said, it isn't a rumor."
The boy's face hadn't changed, and neither had his voice or demeanor. Takemikazuchi felt a boiling rage.
"You filthy reprobate!" Takemikazuchi said. "You fully admit that you debase your master!"
"At the very least, she seems to enjoy it," Kazuma said.
There was a gasp. Somehow a crowd had gathered around them. Takemikazuchi's eyes narrowed.
"How dare you," Takemikazuchi said. "You failed her twice and yet the great Bishamonten didn't see fit to get rid of you. You may enjoy using your master now, but mark my words, she'll throw you back into the trash heap once she gets bored of you!"
"That won't happen," Kazuma said. He looked at Takemikazuchi, steadily.
"Not when what she has is so much better than the competition."
Another gasp. It was as if the entire room had zeroed in on that singular ability of his, and all the implications that went along with it.
If this were a shinki battle, Takemikazuchi would have lost.
"Ah, Veena," Kazuma said. Bishamon had been standing in the crowd, gaping at him. "I was wondering where you were." And the boy had the audacity to walk up toward his master and place his hand on the small of her back.
"Master?" Kiun said, but Takemikazuchi pushed past him, angrily.
"Forgive me, Veena," Kazuma said, in a low voice. "I didn't want you to see me act that way."
"I understand. You did it to keep from blighting me, right?" Veena said.
"Contempt is the only weapon a shinki has," Kazuma said. "I only regret that I dragged you into it."
Veena smiled at him reassuringly. "Well it is true what you said, you are better than the competition," Veena said. She looked up at the ceiling, thoughtfully.
"I just didn't think you'd actually say it out loud."