Rolling out of bed the next morning Ashi hissed as the muscles in her lower back screamed in protest. Peering around the room her heart sped up realizing she wasn't at home. 'That means everything that happened over the last few days really did happen…' Pupils dilating, the new land gods breathing became quick and shallow. 'Easy Yami you can handle this there's only an extremely hot demon somewhere around and you just happen to be a god now.' Crawling over to her bag she grabbed a bottle of pills laying on top dry swallowing 2 before digging out pair of basketball shorts and t-shirt much like yesterdays, changing. Sliding her door open her hand brushed her mutts back as the dog slipped by on its way out side. Yawning the new Earth god stretched, waving timidly at the Kitsune lounging in a nearby tree when she spotted the silver haired male. Moving to the kitchen she made herself a cup of hot chocolate glancing out the window to check on Onikiri and Kotetsu who were playing with her dog , Yoshi, before going back outside to sit on the porch overlooking the Sakura trees. Scenting the air Tomoe jumped down next to Ashi peering curiously at the purple coffee mug in her hand. "What is that?" Bringing the cup to her mouth to sip she raised an eyebrow, crossing her eyes to stare at the fox.
"You mean the cocoa? It's chocolate." Holding the mug out for him she smiled. "Here try some, it's really good." Slowly taking the cup the familiar sniffed it one last time before sipping the hot liquid like he had seen the human do. Sloshing it around in his mouth the demon had to admit it wasn't that bad. Handing Ashi her mug back he sit beside her pulling his fan out. "See it wasn't so bad was it? You don't have rabies do you?" Glaring at her from the corner of his eye he growled, earning a laugh. "I was only playing; gosh don't get your flowery kimono in a bunch."
"You know you still have a long way to go before you're really a land god. The only way you'll get stronger is if you use your new powers. Your illusion was see through yesterday, try turning that cocoa into something else." At her blank stare he sighed. "You can use a talisman if you must." Fishing around in her pocket she produced a sticky note and a pen. Scribbling something down, she stuck the note on the side of her mug before handing it back to him. Sniffing the new substance he sighed. "I knew you were hopeless." Blinking up at him with wide teal eyes she wrinkled her nose.
"Well excuse me I'm new to this. At least Onikiri and Kotetsu are nice to me when I mess up." Marching into the middle of the garden she plopped down on a waiting blanket folding her legs under her. "So I can't turn water into wine, big deal." After flipping him off she shut her eyes concentrating on summoning her powers. Unknown to her a gentle glow surrounded her form gluing the now fuming demon to his spot. Watching as one of the Sakura buds started to bloom around Ashi, Tomoe shook his head, standing up he sipped the cocoa. Sitting the cup back down the familiar decided he needed something to do, so with a sigh he started towards the front of the shrine planning on cleaning the offering bin. Missing as a tiny bird landed in front of the Earth deity.
"Land Goddess. This evening the Princess of the swamp will come to meet the new land god." Cracking an eye open Ashi, frowned when the bird flew away before she could ask it anything. Realizing a bird had just talked to her she shut her eyes tight focusing on her breathing, ignoring the pain in her chest.
"What does it mean when a bird says that the Princess of the swamp is coming here?" Glancing over at the human who had paused in reading the shrine prayers, Tomoe frowned.
"When did this bird say this?" The goddess sit the prayer log down and angled her head to peek over her reading glasses.
"This morning, it said she would be here this evening to meet the new land god." Crossing her eyes and looking up towards her forehead Ashi continued. "By this glowing mark thingy on my head I'm guessing that would be me, right?" Sipping his sake the fox rolled his eyes.
"Yea but that doesn't matter now. I can't let them find out that the new god is a silly human girl. You'll stay in this room and won't come out till their gone. Am I understood?" Waving him off she righted her glasses and continued reading. Frowning at one of the entries the teen looked back up.
"Why are most of these prayers about love or marriage?" Tapping his chin with his fan Tomoe smirked.
"Didn't you know that Mikage was also the god of marriage?" Groaning she shut the book, placing her glasses on top of it.
"Great as if my love life wasn't bad enough now I get to fuck other people's up too. I can't even hold a boyfriend for more than a month, how am I supposed to set people up for life?" Letting her head drop to the table she groaned pulling her hair. "Will you help me Tomoe; you seem to be good with the ladies. You have to know something about this shit." Watching her look up at him he smirked as a piece of paper stuck to her forehead, causing her luminous teal eyes to cross.
"I'm a fox demon; lust is more suited to me than love. If you're to be the new deity you must learn to do this on your own." Snorting Ashi tugged the paper off the face watching his tail wave back and forth slowly.
"Isn't love and lust basically the same thing? You have to have attraction before love can take place." Reaching over to tweak one of his ears she smiled lightly when he growled. "You're adorable so it's easy to see why the raccoon dogs like you so much, plus when you get past the moodiness and glare you're actually a pretty nice demon." Looking down sharply a faintly blush colored his cheeks.
"Aren't you supposed to be going over to log books? Stop wasting time, and do your job." The fox sit his cup down, before standing up to go prepare for the swamp princess's arrival. Pausing half way out of the room he turned back. "Remember, stay in your room until the Swamp Princess leaves. You as a weak human can't protect yourself against demons; you'd be fish food before the end of the night. You would only be in the way." Propping her head up she stared at him with disinterested half lidded eyes.
"I know Tomoe, now go even if I don't get to make my grand appearance I don't want them thinking that this shrine is any less than it was when Mikage ran it, after all the work you put into it over the years you should at least be proud to show it off." Smirking he turned away pausing briefly as a soft 'Thank you' reached his ears.
The Earth deity was bored, after reading for 4 hours straight her head had started to throb. To make matters worse as soon as Himemiko had arrived Yoshi had gone crazy snarling and barking, sure she had the two spirits to keep her company but she couldn't bug them like Tomoe. Tugging her dogs' collar Ashi sighed as the black dog lunged for the shoji screen door again, if she let go the mutt would undoubtedly barrel right through the thin material. Finally after at least 30 minutes of abuse the cotton holding the canine back snapped. Crashing through the door the 50 pound dog dashed down the hallway Ashi right on her tail. Tripping over her own feet the god fell into the door separating the snarling mutt from her target luckily falling on top of said dog to pinning her to the floor. Shaking her head to clear it the teen blushed. "I'm sorry my dog got loose and charged at the screen. I tried to stop her and tripped." Peeking up through long black lashes Ashi frowned seeing a sword dangerously close to the fox's neck. Pushing the blade away Tomoe kneeled beside her shooing the animal out of the room with his hand before capturing her wrist.
"You baka why'd you come out, I was trying to protect you." Aotake smirked leveling his sword.
"So the rumors are true, the new god is a little human girl. For your insults to Princess Himemiko-sama I'll kill you." Standing up and pulling Ashi with him Tomoe stepped in front of her.
"Please do not kill her in here I just cleaned the floor, and the smell of blood is so hard to get rid of." Gaping at the kitsune the teen walked around the smiling youkai, glaring up at him.
"What the hell, asshole? I though you wanted to protect me?" Growling he leaned down flicking her nose with his claw.
"I did but you didn't listen, so this is your punishment." A soft voice spoke up from behind Aotake drawing everyone's attention.
"Why don't you just order him to protect you, as your familiar he has to obey?" Turning round black eyes on her guard the princess clenched her teeth. "Stop this foolishness Aotake we did not come here to fight." Turning back towards the human god the catfish demon blinked, earning a shiver from the deity. Ducking slightly behind Tomoe Ashi smiled, it wasn't her fault she was scared of fish. "I have come to get the land god to grant my bond-tying prayer." Rubbing the back of her head the deity laughed nervously.
"So it's a love thing? Why don't you tell us about it." Clenching her teeth the princess nodded.
"It was ten years ago at Tatara swamp that I fell in love with a human boy, Kotarou Urashima. His crying face was so adorable; I want you to tie the bond between us once again. Won't you please grant me this one request?" Rolling his eyes Tomoe snorted.
"She won't do it. You know that love between a human and a demon is taboo." Ducking her head the catfish ran a hand over the smaller fish in her lap.
"I know, but I love him." Shrugging the Earth god frowned at the fox familiar.
"I'll do it. I'm not quite sure what I will be able to do but I love romances between youkai and humans." Glaring at the lounging fox when he opened his mouth to speak she cut him off. "Besides what could it hurt, obviously the Princess likes this boy I should at least give them a chance." Huffing the kitsune crossed his arms.
Wandering around the shrine Ashi frowned when she didn't spot Tomoe anywhere. Spying the two little fire children floating over a door leading under the wooden floor she moved closer. "Hey have you two seen Tomoe?" Drifting over to her they nodded.
"Tomoe-dono has-"
"- Locked himself in his room, after you agreed to help Himemiko-sama." Tapping her chin she sighed pushing some hair behind her ear, since it was so nice out today the young deity and opted to wear a tank top with her basketball shorts today. Fixing her purse on her shoulder she started for the exit bumping into just the demon she was looking for.
"Tomoe, how are you this morning?" Ignoring the greeting he stepped closer leaning down to her level.
"I don't want you to work with the princess anymore." Gaping at the fox she waved her arms around.
"Why not?! It won't hurt anything." Scoffing at the teen he glared.
"It's not like you can do anything anyway, so why try?" Growling at the demon in front of her Ashi clenched her fists.
"We won't know that, besides you're the one how said I need to start using my powers and what better way than to help a demon princess get the human of her dreams? Besides I wanna prove that ningen and youkai can love each other." Standing back up the kitsune's face fell into a neutral mask.
"Love is a human emotion; demons don't feel how humans do." Throwing her hands up a loud 'ugh' fell from her lips.
"Fine you don't want to help me I'll go to town by myself." Eyes widening Tomoe shoot forward gripping Ashi's shoulder. 'I'm going to town watch after the shrine until I get back.'
"Wait, I'll go with you." Smiling up at the familiar her heart skipped a beat to the emotion in his violet eyes. Nodding dumbly she sighed when he ducked back into the building to change. 'He really is kinda nice once you get use to him.' Frowning at himself Tomoe glared through the wall towards where the deity stood.
'For a moment I thought she might leave like Mikage, why does it bother me so much to think about it?'
And there's chapter 2 up. Review if you feel the need please.