The festival went off without a problem it was the cleaning up afterwards that took the most work. Dragging another trash bag full of garbage to the back of the shrine for Tomoe to burn Ashi frowned feeling an incoming divine presence. Having felt the same aura Yuu sprinted over climbing up her shirt to her shoulders. "What is that Ashi-nee-Chan?" Making sure to keep a hold on the kit's leg she jumped when Otohiko-Gami drifted down in front of her.
"Hello again wind god, did you enjoy the festival?" Floating around her in a circle he sniffed eyeing the tiny redheaded kit.
"It will do. I can barely give you a passing grade." Watching Tomoe make a bee-line to them she smiled.
"At least it was passing… So what are you really here for?" The orange haired man gasped.
"You can see right through me can't you? I've come to issue a summons to Izumo." When the wild fox was within range the wind deity launched himself at him wrapping his arms around his neck. "Tomoe-kun it's been so long!" After prying the god from his neck the fox growled. "Right anyway every year for one week in October the gods hold a meeting, and as Mikage's successor you have to come. There is another human god known as Arahito-gami. A contest will be held whichever one of you wins will get to go to Izumo." Shrugging Ashi ran a hand through her hair.
"Let her go, fancy meetings aren't really my thing." Blinking Otohiko smirked, golden eyes twinkling.
"Surely with nearly every god there one of them is bound to know where Mikage is." Freezing the land goddess frowned. Snorting the silver fox pulled Yuu off of her back scratching his ear to keep him quiet.
"Mikage left of his own choice. I don't need to know where he is, I have Ashi." Hardening her resolve her teal eyes gleamed.
"I'll do it." Wiping around to look at her Tomoe gaped sputtering.
"What do you mean you'll do it?" The goddess grinned.
"I mean I'll do it."
"Ashi-sama why are we at the healers?" Glancing up from the magazine she was browsing through the deity sighed. She'd had to sneak away from the shrine promising Tomoe to bring him McDonald's for lunch at school if he let her go with Mizuki instead of himself.
"Remember I'm sick Scales. I have bi-yearly checkups to see how long I have left." Going back to looking at her book she missed as Mizuki pulled the bottom magazine out causing the whole stack to fall. Feeling something brush her leg the teen looked down. "Mizuki!" Rubbing the back of his neck the snake laughed.
"Ashi Yami!" Grabbing his hand the god pulled her familiar along behind her. "How have you been?" Shrugging she plopped down on the examination table sliding her jacket off.
"As good as to be expected, I guess." Nodding in a half listening way the doctor checked her breathing before drawing blood.
"If your breathing is anything to go on you've gotten worse. I'm sorry to say you don't have very much time left." Biting his lip Mizuki wished Ashi hadn't ordered him not to tell the wild fox. Shrugging her jacket back on the marriage god sighed.
"Can you at least up my pain medication?" Scratching his head the man wrote out a prescription. Following after her the reptile sniffed.
"So that's why you agreed to do the test, so Tomoe won't be alone after you die." Cutting across the street she raised her hand in a rude gesture when a driver honked. Scurrying after her Mizuki yelped having not expected the noise.
"So far Tomoe is the only one I haven't found someone for. I want to at least do that before I go." Blinking the snake paused.
"I have someone?" Looking back over her shoulder she laughed.
"Of course you do I tied you two together at the festival. Congrats I guess you have a soul mate." Mizuki squealed hugging her.
"Thank you!"
Trudging into class just before the lunch bell rang Ashi handed the teacher her doctor's note and took her seat next to Tomoe after scaring the girl that was perched on it away. Setting the fox's food in front of him she sighed nibbling on a fry. Seeing Isobe make a move to bug his goddess the kitsune grabbed his wrist. "Do not touch her." Gulping the blond teen ran away, was it just him or had Mikage's eyes flashed red? Leaning over her from behind the demon smirked when she looked up wrinkling her nose as his hair brushed her face. "What were you and the reptile doing?" She shrugged tracing a finger over his ear.
"I had some things to do. And I needed you to take notes for me." Giving her hair a tug the kitsune frowned.
"Tell me the truth. I can scent your sadness." Scowling she looked away.
"That really is the truth. I needed you to take notes and I though Mizuki could use a little human world interaction." A sudden jolt of pain had her gasping as a coughing fit shook her body. Kurama paled noticing the attack.
"Oi fox take her to the nurse." Growling the silver haired demon lifted her into his arms letting Ashi curl against his chest. Once the goddess had been safely placed on the bed the nurse pushed him out the door, frowning the nurse tapped a pen on her clip board.
"Ashi when are you going to tell your teachers about this?" Shushing her the teen looked pointedly at the door where Tomoe's outline could still be seen.
"They don't need to know, I'm still passing so it shouldn't matter." Clinching his fists the youkai let his claws dig in before walking away.
'I can't protect her from sickness.'
Setting on the cot Ashi sighed hearing the door slide. "So you're supposed to be my competition? I can go home then." Head snapping up Ashi narrowed her eyes.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh I'm Hiiragi Kayako. I thought Otohiko had told you about me." Swinging her feet Ashi hummed.
"Yea I think he did, sorry Imma bit of a scatter brain." Flipping her hair over her shoulder Kayako huffed.
"I should have expected something like that from someone of your upbringing." Growling the land god pushed to her feet.
"Whoa. Just because you're a human god doesn't mean I'm going to let you disrespect me. I take enough of that shit from Foxy." Blinking the brown eyed girl frowned.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean that." Offering her hand Kayako sheepishly smiled. Feeling a shift in the air Ashi mentally sighed. Really she was going to try something… The space around her hand rippled before her fingers exploded into a mass of snakes. Pinching the bridge of her nose Ashi groaned. One of her familiars turned into a giant serpent and these little babies were supposed to scare her? "Why aren't you scared!?" Willing the illusion away the teal eyed girl laughed. Seeing Tomoe wrap a hand around Kayako's neck she snickered watching the color drain from her face.
"Obviously you didn't do your homework." The wild fox released his captive flicking an ear in annoyance. Gasping Kayako touched her throat turning to look at the demon behind her, before screaming and running behind Ashi.
"It's a youkai! I can see a giant white beast!" Growling Tomoe cracked his knuckles extending his claws.
"Step away from my master, human." Waving her hand the land god snorted.
"Really Foxy I think you should've been an actor not a thief." Scowling he pouted letting his youki die down. Moving over Ashi rubbed his ear. "I wanted to give her a scare not a heart attack. She apparently had the same idea." Wiggling her fingers the raven cackled. "Luckily living with you has pretty much made my panic proof, my little trickster." Turning back to the other girl the goddess blinked seeing an empty room. "Hey wait a minute a giant white beast? She can see your true form? How?" Flicking her forehead the kitsune sighed; leave it to her to completely miss the point of this meeting.
Leaning back against the rail of the roof the deity inhaled enjoying the fresh air. Feeling a fluffy tail wrap around her she grinned up as Tomoe stood beside her. "Why don't you just let her go to Izumo?" Ashi snorted running a hand down the silky fur.
"She insulted me. And she called you a beast, I'll admit you are one and wild to boot but it's still not nice to call you that." Watching a sutra float down in front of her face the goddess frowned, really again?
"Hey you!" Grabbing Tomoe's shirt Kayako pulled him down to her level before pressing her lips against his. "I order you to obey me." Cocking an eyebrow the kitsune pushed her away.
"I'm a demon not a normal familiar; I chose who my master is. Regardless that wouldn't have worked anyway because I'm already under a contract." Patting the brown eyed girl on the back Ashi sniggered.
"Don't worry about it Foxy still doesn't like me and I've known him almost a whole year." Jerking away Kayako screeched.
"How did that not work?!" A random gust of wind sent both females backwards gaining their attention as Otohiko hovered above them.
"Now that both of you have the fighting spirit I'll tell you what you have to do." Producing two small eggs from his pocket the golden eyed man handed one to each. "You have to hatch a shikigami, for 7 days you must take care of it and the one that becomes the most beautiful shall win." Raising her hand Ashi waved it trying to get the wind god's attention. "Yes Ashi?"
"Yea this isn't really a question I just wanted to tell you I love the leopard print jacket, it's fabulous!" Eyes sparkling the god spun around to show off.
"Thank you, I try. Well now that you have your eggs ta-ta!" Cradling her shikigami egg Ashi groaned, great one more mouth to feed.
Rubbing her shoulders Ashi let her head thud against the table drawing a concerned look from the golden fox across from her. "Ashi dear is everything okay?" Nodding the deity sit up rubbing the red mark left behind.
"Yes I just hate Algebra." Turning her eyes to the egg beside her the goddess moaned. "Why is my life so complicated?" As if to make her life more of a living hell Tomoe took the seat beside her sipping a small cup of sake.
"If you would just give up you could have a simple life again." Snorting she tugged his tail into her lap petting it.
"Foxy my life hasn't been simple since I met you. You seem to draw drama like a magnet which isn't too hard to understand, being as gorgeous as you are not to mention a man whore." Tenshi nearly blew tea out of her nose as Akki patted her back. Yuu didn't look up from where he lay poking the tiny egg with his little claw. Narrowing his violet eyes the fox growled.
"You're lucky you're my master, I've killed for less than that." Waving him off she went back to her homework.
"Yea you used to be to most feared demon in japan, but oh how the mighty have fallen. Now you're just a familiar to a teenager." Flicking a ball of blue fox fire at her paper Tomoe smirked when it set her homework ablaze. Yelping she smacked the table hurting her hand but putting the flame out. Rounding on the wild fox she growled tackling him off his pillow. Straddling him she gripped his kimono shacking him. "Why would you do that!? You know I'm no good at math!" Flipping them over Tomoe growled/ purred catching her hands in one of his pulling them over her head.
"It is not wise to taint a demon." A crack made the whole room silent as everyone turned to stare at Yuu where he set gaping at the egg his claw had just broken. Standing up Tomoe helped Ashi to her feet.
"Are you kidding me? It didn't even last one whole day!? I'm pathetic!" Hurrying to her youngest son's side Tenshi pinched his ear between her claws.
"What did you do, Yuu? Apologize right now." Ducking his head the red kitsune sniffed.
"I'm sorry Ashi-Nee-Chan. I didn't mean too." Sinking down on her pillow the god ran a hand through her hair sighing deeply.
"I know sweetie, its okay. Maybe I wasn't supposed to go to the meeting anyway…" Opening her arms for a hug she winced as the tiny demon crashed into her chest harder than expected. Patting his head she looked around for the egg spotting it beside the door just as Mizuki walked in and promptly stepped on it to make matters worse. Looking down at the thing he'd heard crack the Hebi gasped hopping to the side.
"Ashi-sama I'm sorry! I didn't see it!" Felling a tick form over her eye the deity bit her cheek willing herself to have patience.
"No, its fine. I'm a horrible god anyway, this just proves it." Pushing to his feet the wild fox growled smacking Mizuki on the back of the head.
"Look what you did, you made her feel worse." The snake hissed fending him off with the prayer log.
"At least I wasn't just fighting with her." A sudden crack had everyone looking back at the egg was a tiny ball of black and silver fur wiggled free before yawning. Blinking Ashi couldn't believe what see was seeing. Even if she'd had it under a day the shikigami was already a living thing. Picking the small fur ball up she smiled when it nuzzled her hand giving a quiet yip.
"Aw that's so cute, it's a mini fox." Jumping to her shoulder the baby licked her cheek. Rolling his eyes the silver fox snorted.
"It's small and weak, you can never hope to beat Kayako with this." Giving a silent snarl the black and silver fox latched on to Tomoe's ear gnawing. Patting the little thing's head the goddess unclamped it's teeth.
"I happen to think he's adorable. It only makes sense that he would be a fox, there are four kitsune here. One snake and a human don't really have that much of an effect with you guys so close." Placing her shikigami back on her shoulder the raven grinned flashing fangs. "You of all people should know foxes are beautiful creatures." Looking between the two the others backed out of the room slowly giving them a moment alone.
Laughing as the still unnamed shikigami hopped from her head to her shoulder then back again the teenager smiled dragging Tomoe along behind her. "Don't tell me that tiny little thing is your shikigami. You must've broken your egg." Rubbing her head Ashi cast an annoyed glance at the other human god, shocking her. No one had ever not been happy to see Kayako; it wasn't a good feeling knowing that this strange teal eyed girl wasn't excited to have her even talking in her direction.
"You try living with five demons and see how much chaos you have. I'm lucky I haven't died yet." Continuing on her way the land god missed the look Kayako, before she swung her bag.
"Oi don't ignore me!" A clawed hand gripped her wrist before the bag even moved. Squeezing lightly the demon growled causing a shiver to run down the human god's back.
"Never attempt to hurt my goddess again. You will not like me if you do." Looking over her shoulder Ashi huffed seeing her familiar still a ways behind.
"Come on Foxy I wanna bug bird brain before classes start." Waiting until the fox was even with her again she smiled rubbing his ear. Frowning he growled tugging her hair.
"You're so troublesome." Wrapping her arm around the kitsune's she laughed.
"Why'd you stop her? I could've handled myself, ya know." Smiling the fox flicked her forehead nearly knocking the tiny shikigami away when she swatted at him playfully.
"I'm not so sure." Righting the little fox before he could fall she gripped Tomoe's tail pulling.
"I tackled you yesterday and lived. If I can do that to one of the most feared Youkai in Japan then I'm sure I can handle a teenage girl with attention issues." Waiting until they were both seated to continue the land god groaned. "So what do you know about her anyway?" Resting his head on an up turned palm the demon rolled his violet eyes.
"She comes from the Hiiragi family, that clan has been known to represent gods for many centuries. They've been producing powerful physic users for generations. People have worshipped them for a long time, and from her ability she was probably trained from a young age to become a living god." Letting her head thud against the desk Ashi muttered to herself before looking up at the fox.
"I bet you wish Mikage would've picked someone like her to take his place so you wouldn't have to put up with my shit all the time."
"It doesn't matter now because I'm yours." Blinking his eyes widened as he realized what he had just said. Seeing her smile a sweet tender expression crossed her face that made his heart jolt before she pulled a book from her bag and pushed to her feet.
"Thanks Foxy. I needed to hear that. I'll be back in a bit." Hurriedly walking out of the room she felt herself flush before shaking her head and continuing to the library. Having ease dropped on the conversation Kurama took the seat Ashi had just left drawing the Kitsune's eyes to him.
"I hadn't realized your feelings had progressed these far yet, admitting that you're hers. I may not be a fox but everyone knows they are selfish beings and willingly stating that you belong to her is about a much of a confession as you can give." Growling Tomoe left, needing room to think about what he had just done.
'What the hell is this? I couldn't have meant that could I?'
So who else is excited that they announced the voice actors for the English dub? I know I am!
Anyway reviews welcome and if you see any errors please tell me!