104th Spell: Datsu the Zashiki-Warashi
"Are you lost, Mister?"
Haru flinched and looked around for the source of the child-like voice he just heard. Apart from himself, there was no one else in the foyer of the Wataka Mansion.
"Um, I guess so," Haru answered, unsure if he was hearing things. "I just arrived and I'm not sure where I'm staying."
"So you're a guest, then?" said the child-like voice. "We haven't had one of those in a while."
"We? You sound like there's more than one of you."
"Of course, Mister. A mansion this big has to have more than one Zashiki-warashi around to run things properly."
"Zashiki-warashi? What is that?" Haru tried to remember if they were covered in Defense Against the Dark Arts or Care of Magical Creatures, but nothing came to mind.
"How can you not know what a Zashiki-warashi is?" The child-like voice responded, sounding genuinely surprised. "You're a wizard, right?"
"I am, but not a…typical wizard. People say I'm an Osozaki."
"Osozaki? Wow! That's so rare!"
Suddenly, a small boy appeared in front of Haru out of thin air. He had close-cut brown hair, pale skin, and wore an orange-yellow yukata while holding a golden orb in his hand.
"Are you the one who was talking to me?" Haru asked the boy.
"Yes, Mister," the boy said as he bowed politely. "The name's Datsu, and I'm in charge of running the first floor of the Wataka Mansion."
"In charge? Like a housekeeper?" Haru guessed.
"Exactly," Datsu nodded. "We Zashiki-warashi are benevolent yokai that occupy a person's home to bring them good fortune as long as they treat us well."
"And what happens if you aren't treated well?"
"We turn into black-haired beasts that bring misfortune, or so I've heard. Anyway, what's your name, Mister?"
"Haru Ryuji."
"The Boy Who Vanished?" Datsu's eyes widened. "Hey, Kuyori, the Boy Who Vanished is in the house with us!"
A series of clanking sounds were suddenly heard. Then from various corners of the foyer emerged several suits of samurai armor that moved on their own without anyone inside them. Haru froze with fear as each living armor unsheathed their samurai swords by invisible hands and approached him from all sides.
"STOP!"
From the left side of the foyer emerged Meru Wataka, who had her gingko wand out and was accompanied by Gyoku.
"Lady Meru!" Datsu exclaimed as he flinched with fear.
"What is the meaning of this?" Meru questioned Datsu. "Are you bothering our guest?"
"Guest? Oh, you mean Haru Ryuji?" Datsu said. "I wasn't bothering him, Lady Meru. Just playing with him is all."
"You call summoning my Kuyori to attack him as 'playing'?" Meru held her wand in an upright position. "Return to your previous positions!"
Obediently, the living suits of samurai armor sheathed their swords and walked away.
"I wasn't going to let them hurt him," Datsu claimed. "Honest!"
"Even so, that wasn't a nice thing to do, Datsu," Gyoku interjected. "Haru just got here, and he just cremated his parents. The last thing he needs is to be intimidated by you!"
"Your parents?" Datsu looked at Haru with confusion. "I thought your mother died after you were born, and your dad's dead body was recently found on the beach near here."
"He's talking about my adopted parents," Haru said solemnly. "They were killed by Warumo, along with my adopted sister."
"Oh, gosh, I'm sorry!" Datsu apologized. "I didn't mean to scare you. Can I do something to make up for it?"
"You can make yourself useful by showing Ryuji-kun to our guest room," Meru said to Datsu. "And if you don't cause any more trouble for the rest of the evening, you'll get an extra portion of azuki meshi tonight."
"Really?" Datsu's face lit up. "Then I won't disappoint you, Lady Meru! Come on, Haru Ryuji!"
Taking Haru by the hand, Datsu dragged him down the left hallway next to the foyer. On the way, they passed by one of the living suits of samurai armor that attacked Haru earlier. Though he couldn't see a face, Haru sensed it was watching him.
"What exactly is a Kuyori?" Haru asked Datsu.
"They're suits of armor that have been enchanted by a spell that makes them come to life and protect a house from perceived intruders," Datsu explained. "I take it you've never seen Kuyori Armor before."
"No," Haru replied. "I was raised by a Manai family and didn't know anything about magic until last year."
"Last year? Then that's when your Manai family died, right?"
"Yes…."
"Do you have any other relatives?"
"Just an adopted uncle named Rakurai Higa, who became my legal guardian last year. But I don't know of any blood relatives."
"I've heard the Tago family is still around, though it's only the grandmother Hogona and her son Iwa. As for the Ryujis, they're pretty much all gone—except for you, of course."
"How do you know all of this?"
"After Gaane and Fuyou told Lady Meru about you during Winter Break, she decided to do her own research into your family which I happened to listen in on while invisible."
"Why was she looking into my family?"
"To see if your remaining family members had any further connections to Warumo-uragi apart from your parents."
"Is that why the Kuyori reacted to me the way they did?"
"When Lady Meru told Miss Rui that she didn't want her to hang out with you, I sort of misinterpreted her statement to mean she considered you a threat. So I told the Kuyori to be prepared for attack if you should set foot in this house."
"Then you're the reason those things attacked me!"
"Look, I'm sorry about that!" Datsu looked like he was about to cry. "Please forgive me! I realize now that you couldn't possibly be evil, considering how naive you are."
Though Haru didn't like Datsu's backhanded statement, he decided to accept Datsu's apology just to avoid further embarrassment. After Datsu led Haru to the guest room, which was a small square space with a tatami mat floor, a rolled-up mattress, a headrest, and a closet with sliding doors, the Zashiki-warashi left him alone. Before Haru could question where Datsu was going, a small girl appeared in front of him with bob-cut brunette hair and wearing a magenta-pink kimono while holding a golden orb that looked identical to the one Datsu was carrying.
To be continued…
