Eighty-Five
Wednesday dawned and I woke up early, having a lot to do in preparation for our trip tomorrow. After a hasty breakfast with Shaeula we set off for the city proper. First on the agenda was to pick up Shaeula’s passport and a few other docunts. We then had to grab a few final bits and pieces, and as Shaeula was often reminding , replace that dress of hers she liked that was ruined bandaging up.
On our train ride back to our nearest tro station, Shaeula was grinning at her passport, constantly flicking through it. I wasn’t sure what was so entertaining about boring docunts like that, but since she seed to be having fun I let her be, trying to ignore all the gazes from the surrounding commuters. Well, we do stand out. Shaeula was definitely eye-catching, and since my Charm had increased a lot I had noticed more and more people looking at . It’s honestly a bit disconcerting, but it can’t be helped…
Getting off at our local station we dropped the various items we had bought back at my apartnt, before setting off for the most important task of the day, at Shirohebizumi shrine. As we were about to leave a door opened a bit away from us, and a rather dishevelled Karen-chan peeked out. On seeing us her expression brightened a little.
“Back from your trip ho then?” she asked, her voice hoarse. Wow, she doesn’t sound well.
“We are indeed. I found Akio’s hotown rather fascinating. And of course the festival was especially entertaining for -. But that aside…” she gazed at Karen-chan with concern. “Are you well-well? You seem down…”
Karen-chan smiled, though it looked forced to . Opening up the door she stepped outside. She was wearing sweats and an old t-shirt, and her face was devoid of make-up, which was not like a working woman such as Karen-chan, who liked to take care of herself. “Thanks for your concern, but I’ll be all right. I’ve just… not been so well recently. It’ll pass, it always does.” She sighed.
“Well, if you need anything, let know. Although saying that, from tomorrow we will be away again until early next week.”
“You are always so busy nowadays. Must be nice to enjoy your work.” She looked down, before plastering another smile on her face. “When you get back we should go out again. Your treat of course, Akio-kun.”
“Yeah sure, that’s fine.” I agreed. “You just take care of yourself and don’t push too hard, okay?”
Shaeula echoed my sentints, advising Karen-chan to rest, and as she closed her door, retreating to her apartnt, I wondered just what was up. First she skipped work to go to the city with us, now she’s not well. I hope she’s all right… Sadly I couldn’t solve the problems of everyone I knew, so putting that aside I made a resolution to treat her to a decent al out and so drinks when we returned to cheer her up.
“All right then, off to Shirohebizumi shrine. Once we’ve done our business there, we can do our last efforts in our Territory and we are ready for the off!”
********
As we ascended to the shrine I noticed that it was looking far more… well, tidy… than normal. All the torii had now been freshly painted, the steps had been scrubbed until they glead, and fresh lanterns and other adornnts were everywhere. There were also a fair few shrine maidens working, using traditional bamboo brushes and other tools, including a few I recognised from the eting before.
As I crested the top to the shrine-building-proper, a young-looking Shrine maiden ca racing over, pale with breathlessness. She gave a rather cute grin and a little bow, before looking at with her big eyes. “Hey Akio-kun, hey Shaeula. What brings you to the shrine today?” she said brightly.
Akio-kun, hmm. She’s pretty forward for a younger girl, but then Keomi-chan is kind of an airhead from what I’ve seen and heard… I don’t suppose it matters.
“Oh, I was hoping to have a word with Izumi-san, the head of the shrine. Is he about?” as I asked her, I could feel a strange gaze on , it was causing my back around my lunar chakra to prickle strangely. Shaeula too must have felt sothing as she was looking around, her eyes glowing amber in the sun.
“Oh, you an honoured grandfather? Sure, he’s in.” Keomi-chan answered. “Though he’s eting with soone real important at the mont. I don’t think he’ll mind if it’s you who interrupts though.”
“No, I can wait. I’ve got ti spare today. So, is Kana-chan not around today?”
“Oh, no, she’s out with her friends.” Keomi-chan giggled then lowered her voice, leaning in close to whisper conspiratorially to . “I think honoured grandfather has been really hard on her recently. He’s pushing her to train her gifts. Whoa…” Keomi-chan caught the hem of her outfit and tumbled forwards, nearly knocking us both off balance, only being kept up by grabbing her arm. She flushed red, and I released her.
“Oh, sorry about that. Everyone says I’m pretty clumsy.” She apologised, but I waved it away.
“Oh, by the way…” she continued, looking up at us hopefully. “Did you bring us any more cake? That was really good last ti.”
“I’m afraid not.” I answered, amused to see her looking so suddenly downcast. She’s like a little kitten, she shows what she is thinking by her body-language instantly. It’s pretty adorable… Withdrawing so money from my wallet I handed it over. “Why don’t you take a couple of your friends and go get so? I probably should take a gift if I’m eting Izumi-san anyway.”
“Wow, thanks Akio-kun, you are super nice. Girls, co on!” she hurried off, and I thought about just how my life had changed. A month ago I wouldn’t be dreaming of situations like this… like this… hang on, I’ve just been giving money to schoolgirls again. Am I coming across as so kind of deviant?
Deciding that since my motives weren’t improper it was okay, I settled down to wait on one of the benches around the shrine. So of the maidens ca over to talk to Shaeula, who was soon enjoying herself gossiping with the girls about food and fashion. Still, the prickling around my lunar chakra was not diminishing, if anything it was growing stronger, a feeling of being watched annoyingly uncomfortable. Closing my eyes I focussed, channelling a little aether until I could vaguely sense the direction of the gaze. In surprise I opened my eyes, looking over at an ornately painted folding screen that was blocking off one edge of the courtyard, depicting an image of a family of kami. Is that Susanoo-no-Mikoto and his wife Kushinada-Hi? Along with their son and her grandparents? Maybe I should have studied more in those classes in school. Still, the expensive-looking screen (which was not there last ti I was here) was not the issue. I could see eyes peering at through the folds, their gazes intent.
“So, you mind coming out from hiding?” I asked politely. “I can feel three sets of gazes from behind the screen, so don’t be shy.”
For a mont there was nothing, before three young children ca out from behind the screen. There was a pair of twins, middle-school girls by the looks of it, in a sailor-suit type uniform, though the colours were wine red and white, which was a bit unusual. They were accompanied by an older boy, who was wearing a set of garnts similar to what the shrine priest would wear. The girls’ brother, maybe? There’s a resemblance, he is quite the handso one. Bet he breaks plenty of hearts at school.
“That is quite enough of that. I fear you are being rude to Akio-sama and Shaeula-sama.” Masaji-san said. Ignoring Shaeula who was annoyed by the honorifics, I turned to them and bowed in apology.
“I’m sorry, we got a little carried away. Though there is no harm done, I assure you. We were just getting acquainted is all.”
“I’m sure.” The newcor laughed. “Knowing my boy, I doubt he was being humble. Anyway, a pleasure to et you, I’m Hikawa Hiroto, head of the Hikawa Kawagoe shrine. This is my son Ren and my daughters Chiaki and Chiasa.” Ren-san scowled at as he gave greetings, while Chiaki-san and Chiasa-san both bowed politely, while still holding hands.
Hikawa Kawagoe? That’s a big shrine indeed, with a really old history… what are such big fish doing in our small pond?
“It’s a pleasure to et you all.” I returned the greetings. “I am Oshiro Moonstone Akio. Please ignore my stupid middle na, I’m a half, you see. And this is Shaeula. My… compatriot and friend.”
Shaeula likewise smiled back politely.
“So, I see, I see. Looks like my lovely daughters were right on the money as always. It’s a blessing to have talented children, is it not?” Hikawa-san said happily. “Isn’t this a treat? I think it must be fate that we have this second chance.”
Second chance? Now I’m lost…
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