/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45236751
Appearing far from her encounter with Tsukasa, Aya felt the cold wind of the night. While she was tempted to check on Hana, it was imperative that she unmask Yukari’s associate now. Besides, she’d be back later with a treat for her: Dad’s homemade meals! Sooner or later, she’d have to talk to Hana. Sooner would be easier, considering Hana would notice her new half-siblings later… maybe she could put it off for two months.

Finding an empty area in the outskirts of the village, Aya took to the skies to spot Momiji at the roof of the HSE. Kilometers away, Momiji gave a signal to her far-off companion: The customer was still in reception and would soon leave through the front door. Diving close to the ground, the crow tengu made her way into the village, arriving at her hiding spot. Her camera was set and strapped tightly, legs ready to push, and eyes locked firmly on the front door. There was a minute left until her reservation came up. After fifteen seconds that stretched for eternity, the door to the HSE opened. A hooded figure causally ambled out, the sound of clinking metal accompanying them.

As soon as the door shut, Aya shot out, grabbing the tall figure’s cloak. It came off easily. As her camera automatically took shots, the tengu noticed that the mask came off too. In fact, it was sown in, along with a pair of hair buns and four iron manacles. Looking back to the spot the stranger was standing revealed nothing but darkness.

Dammit, this was supposed to be her big break! Capture Tsukasa’s ally and sweat them for details! Maybe it was some kind of illusion: The Three Fairies came to mind, but it was the dead of night. The moon wasn’t even full: Only the lonely stars shined. Then again, so did the HSE’s lights. Looking a little harder… There, on the ground—a shadow!

Aya could barely make out a figure: The head blended into the rest of the shadows, but around the shoulders were sharp angles. The abdomen seemed to have bulky clothes, and one arm extended outwards, holding something long and thin… that moved! Aya dodged the shadow of the invisible tool, hearing the wind whistle as her bangs fell to the ground. A blunt force followed quickly, colliding with the middle of her chest. Aya heard a clang of steel against steel as she tumbled, her body thrown back with enough force to skip across dry land. Braking herself, she saw Momiji looking into the sky, gripping her shield and giant sword tightly. The shadow was gone, leaving only a wolf with bristled fur.

Aya grabbed the cloak and ran over to her guardian, eager to investigate her piece of evidence. “Momiji, we got a lead! Let’s go inside, I’ll explain everything. Nice moves, by the way. I thought all that free time would you make you soft, but your reflexes are sharp as ever!” However, the wolf tengu didn’t reply, simply staring at Aya’s face with a weird expression. The reporter felt something hot and wet was flowing under her right eye. How embarrassing, crying after a fight. Wiping her cheek, she felt a sharp pain when she made contact with her face. As soon as she retracted her hand, the crimson stain explained everything. She didn’t completely avoid the swing.

The wolf tengu spared no effort, dragging Aya into the HSE by the shoulder and loudly calling for a medic. Aya pulled away, but the pain in her chest kept her escaping the wolf’s grasp. Ran, in shock at the crow tengu apparently missing half of her face, called for a group of yamawaro to take the girl for immediate medical attention. As much as it hurt, the tengu tried to end this farce before it got too far, wiping away all the blood to reveal the thin cut that spanned the bridge of her nose to her ear.

Her heart rate stabilizing, the shikigami waved the employees away. “Thank goodness you’re okay… What happened to you?!”
“I’ll tell you later. I’d just like to see Anon for a bit. I gotta cook something with him, alright?” The tengu stumbled to Ran’s desk and took a fistful of napkins to blot her cut. “I’ll wear a mask, don’t worry. I don’t want him seeing me like this.”

“Aya, I’m far more worried about you right now. Can you even make it to the shrine in your condition?” The kitsune’s genuine compassion made Aya feel warm inside… no, that was her lungs throbbing.

“Just let Momiji in with me. She’s a good girl, I won’t let her do anything bad to Anon. Right Momiji?”

The white wolf locked eyes with Ran. “I swear on my life that I won’t attack Anon. My duty is to ensure Aya yet lives.”

Two troublesome tengu, one bloody and the other bloodlusty. If Aya was vouching for her, perhaps she shared her pill with the girl before. Momiji was more attentive today… this girl. She flashed Aya a small grin. “Very well. Just don’t die on Anon. It’d be a sorry way to go.”

“Of course I won't. I gotta marry him first.”

(Part 49)