"Who said I was going to help you?" He sat down on the pedestal with his legs crossed.
"Why wouldn't you? You've already declared your devotion to me--even though you keep disappearing and playing tricks on me as usual." She made a sweeping arm motion as she spoke.
He chuckled. "This is who I am. I'm a dragon, it's in my nature to be a trickster." He jumped down from the pedestal and took a step closer to her. "It doesn't change the way I feel about you, though." He brushed her cheek with his thumb and for a split second she leaned into his touch, letting herself get lost in his warm hands. Why do you have to be so confusing?
She pulled away. No good could come of falling for his charms. "We're never going to get anything done if you keep falling into this romantic melancholy all the time," she snapped to hide her own desire.
"Melancholy's a pretty big word for you. I'm impressed."
"Shut up," she growled. "Tell me, where would a Kami go if he was not in his shrine?"
Kaito pressed his finger to his chin and tapped it. "Well, what do we know about him?"
"Well, he's a Kami."
"Or the villagers perceive him as one. As you remember, not all gods are really what they claim." He smiled at her, showing all his white teeth. She looked away, ignoring the way his smile made her feel. This needs to stop before I turn into an emotional mess like in the spider dream. Now that would be a nightmare.
"Okay. So he's a god or godlike creature," Suzume amended.
Kaito preened as if she were talking about him. He ran his hand over his hair, which was styled in a sleek topknot.
Damn former 'god'. Suzume rolled her eyes. "The old woman said he controlled the crops and the rain, so he must have some sort of control over the elements. I also think he can grant wishes."
Kaito snorted. "Do you know how many immortals claim that very thing?"
"Since I haven't met many, I'll have to go with an 'I don't know'," Suzume deadpanned. He may act like he loved her, but he was still condescending as always.
He ignored her quip and continued. "Let's just say a lot. Granting wishes is not something just any immortal can do, not really. A lot of them like to pretend they can--like giving a farmer gold that turns into dirt a week later and things like that. A true wish can only be granted by a very powerful god. I'll tell you right now, this village is way too small for something that powerful to be watching over it. Most of these villagers just get something they call a god and pray to. Sometimes immortals will take up residence and eat the offerings, listen to the prayers, then leave. There are hardly any real gods living in shrines. My guess"--he picked up the acorn from the pedestal and rolled it around in his hand--"we have a thief who stole an empty idol."
"Why would they do something like that?" Suzume asked. "What would be the point?"
Kaito shrugged. "There's lots of different reasons, but most likely because they thought it would be funny. My gold coin is on it being a Kitsune." He flung the acorn into the air and caught it.
"You mean those little furry things with the big ears?" Suzume held her hands together to indicate the size of said creature.
Kaito patted her on the head. "No, this wouldn't be an ordinary wild fox. This creature would have a human form--most likely with ears and a tail. When a human without spiritual powers saw it, they would only see a regular fox, but for someone like you or me, we would see the creature's true form."
"How did you figure all of that out just from an acorn?" Suzume asked with a puzzled expression.
"Because the culprit is behind you." He motioned with his hand and Suzume glanced over her shoulder.
A woman with auburn hair down to her waist and matching ears poking out of the top of her skull stood outside the shrine. She had red lips and long lashes. She wore a robe hitched up to her hip, revealing a long shapely leg.
"Well, long time no see, Dragon," the Kitsune said. "I'm disappointed that you would jump to the conclusion that I am the one who stole the idol."
She sauntered over and brushed past Suzume, bumping her and almost causing Suzume to lurch forward.
"Hey," Suzume snapped. "Who do you think you are, coming in here and interrupting?"
The Kitsune pressed herself against Kaito, and he looked down at her with a bemused expression. The Kitsune rested one hand on his chest as she turned back and looked at Suzume as if she was just noticing her for the first time.
"I felt something coming from this shrine last night and came to investigate." She gave Suzume an innocent smile. "It was a bonus to discover my dragon here as well." She purred.
Suzume scowled at her.
"Rin, what are you doing in this region?" Kaito's voice wasn't harsh necessarily but not affectionate either.
Rin nuzzled into his chest. "I heard about your resurrection and I came looking for you." She looked up at him, batting her long lashes. "Why didn't you come get me the moment you awoke?" She pouted.
Suzume thought she was going to be sick. Who was this tramp, and why was she practically throwing herself at Kaito? Why do I care?
"I hate to interrupt your reunion, but I need to find whoever stole this idol so I can reverse this spell that has Kaito acting..."
"Like he's in love with you?" Rin asked.
Suzume glared at her. "How do you know?"
"Because I've been listening while you two bickered." She grinned. "I can help you break the spell and find the idol."
Suzume sized her up. Rin stood with a hand on her hip and her body turned to give Kaito the best view of her generous curves. Suzume looked at her own ill-fitting borrowed clothes and flat chest and nonexistent hips. Suzume hated Rin, she decided.
"We don't need your help. Come on, Kaito," Suzume said as she motioned with her hand.
Rin pulled a face and then a slow smile spread across her features. What is she smiling about?
Suzume turned to walk out, but as she did, Kaito stopped her with a word. "Wait."
Suzume was opening her mouth to argue when he gave her a quelling look. The thunderclouds were in his eyes again. The telltale prickle of her powers raced over her skin and she clamped her mouth shut. She wasn't going to argue with him when he was in a mood. She had seen what he did to that spider. Rin watched the exchange, smiling to herself.
"What did you see?" Kaito asked Rin.
Rin shot Suzume a smug, triumphant grin. "Last night, I was on my way to find you when I stopped at the shrine. I felt a strange energy and went to investigate. The idol broke apart and there was a little bald man sitting there." She pointed at the pedestal where the idol had previously sat.
"Are you saying the idol came to life?"
She shook her head. "I'm saying something unleashed the immortal that was inside that idol."
They both turned and looked at Suzume, who threw her hands up. "Well, don't look at me."
Chapter Twenty-seven
Suzume shook her head furiously; her hair whipped back and forth as she did so. "You can't blame this one me!" She stopped shaking her head and jabbed a finger towards Kaito. "I was at the old woman's hovel all night. You saw me, you were there! There's no way I could have awakened the god... if it even was a god. I'm still thinking this Kitsune has something to do with the missing idol. Why was the acorn here? Maybe we should be investigating other explanations!"
The pair of them stared at her with identical dumbfounded expressions. "Are you finished?" Kaito asked. He grinned and it only intensified her embarrassment.
There's no way I unleashed that Kami. Sure, a couple of strange things happened when I was here yesterday, but when I broke Kaito's seal, I felt something. I felt my powers reaching out to the seal. I didn't feel anything here.
She glared at him, but it had lost some of its intensity. "Yeah. I'm finished." Her shoulders sagged.
Kaito looked at Rin. "Tell us, other than that, what did you see last night?"
Rin sat down on the pedestal where the idol had been. She crossed her leg over her knee and her robe hitched up nea
rly to her hip. Kaito's eyes flickered in that direction and Suzume's temper, already frayed, reached a boiling point.
"Cover yourself. You look like something from the red district," Suzume snarled at Rin.
Rin gave her a placid expression and pulled her robe down an inch. She cleared her throat. "I told you all of it, basically. The god--or whatever he was--was sitting here where the idol used to sit, I'm assuming." She shrugged. "He had a chain around his neck made of large coins, and when he saw me, he screamed; then I screamed. He bolted past me before I could get anything out of him."
"That's all?" Kaito asked. He looked at Rin like he was chastising a child.
She smiled up at him and batted her long lashes. "That's all, master."
The way she said master made Suzume's skin crawl. Get it together. You don't care who he flirts with or how trashy she is. "I have to know, how do you two know each other?"
"That's not important right now," Kaito said, waving away her question. "If you did unleash this immortal, it means your powers are not under your control in the least, which explains why you were so irresistible to that spider..."
Rin's ears perked up and swiveled towards Kaito. She looked at him with wide fearful eyes. "Spider?"
"A huge one whose poison caused vivid hallucinations before it drained its victim of all of its life energy." Kaito wiggled his fingers and moved towards Rin.
She shrieked and ran away from him. He chased her around the pedestal. What is wrong with these immortals? Is everything just a game to them?
Suzume stepped in Kaito's way. He nearly collided with her but caught himself at the last minute. She jutted her chin towards him. "We don't have time for your flirting. We need to find this idol."
"Jealous?" he purred.
She dodged his hand before he could touch her. She scoffed. "Hardly."
Suzume stomped out of the shrine and out onto the road beyond. She looked both ways. If I were a god, where would I go?
"He went into the woods behind the shrine," Rin said. She pointed at a wooded area that led up the hill behind them.
Suzume bit her tongue to keep from saying a sharp retort. Rin's input may have been unwanted, but it was at least helpful. I'll make a onetime exception to listen to her.
"What do we do once we find him?" Suzume asked.
"Well, I for one want to know what unleashed him," Kaito said. His expression was pensive.
Suzume stared at his profile. His brow crinkled slightly and his lips were parted. She had not seen him look so thoughtful before. It softened his face and she could see the handsome man beneath the taunting, infuriating creature she had come to know. Why does he want to know who unleashed the idol? Does it have anything to do with me breaking his seal?
A sharp pinch on her arm brought Suzume back from her musings. "Ouch!" she shouted and spun around to see Rin grinning at her. "Why did you do that?" Suzume demanded.
"Do what?" Rin swished her tail behind her and flattened her ears. She gave Suzume a look that belied innocence. She's anything but innocent.
"You pinched me or something..." Suzume rubbed her arm where the pain had started.
Rin scoffed and tossed her auburn hair over her shoulder. "I did not. You're delusional."
Suzume considered scratching her eyes out when Kaito intervened. "Ladies, you don't need to fight over me."
"This has nothing to do with you," Suzume snapped.
Rin coughed and it sounded like she was saying "liar". Suzume scowled at her. Suzume thought of saying something rude in return, but for once common sense overruled. In a battle between her and two Yokai, it was better that she bite her tongue. Rin swung her tail back and forth, and whistled. I'm onto you, Kitsune.
"Enough bickering," Kaito said, with a half-smile. "Let's go find this Kami, or whatever he is."
Kaito headed towards the woods. After another snotty glance between the two women, they followed after him.
The forest behind the shrine was thick with undergrowth. Plants tangled in the roots of the massive trees that towered overhead. Sunlight pushing through the trees' canopy, creating fractured shadows on the forest floor as the daylight struggled to break through. Suzume had the impression that the villagers did not come this way very often. While she fought through the undergrowth, Rin and Kaito seemed to have no trouble. The hairs on the back of her neck rose up and the skin on the back of her arms prickled.
She rubbed the back of her neck and looked over her shoulder. She heard nothing but birds calling to one another and the wind rustling through the trees. There's nothing here. It's just my imagination. After a few feet, the undergrowth gave way to a steep incline. Kaito and Rin chatted together, oblivious to her struggle. Damn Yokai. I bet she's loving watching me flounder, too. Suzume glared daggers at Rin's back.
Too focused on Rin, she did not see the loose earth and her foot slid and she stumbled, landing on her elbow. Pain shot up and down her limb. She cried out in pain and Kaito stopped. When he saw her, he doubled back, leaving Rin farther up the hill. Rin pulled down her lower lip, mocking Suzume behind Kaito's back. Then Rin feigned falling to the ground, and rubbed her fists over her eyes like she was crying. Suzume pushed up onto her knees with her good arm and brushed off her hands as Kaito reached her. She held her arm close to her body and pretended it didn't hurt though it was throbbing and bleeding.
"If you want, I can carry you. It's only going to get more treacherous the higher up we go." He held his hand out for her, but Suzume ignored it and climbed to her feet.
"I don't need your help. I can climb on my own." She held her head up high, like the princess she was.
He smiled but made no comment. He hurried back up the hill to a waiting Rin. Rin took Kaito's hand as he approached and he didn't shake her off. I'd like to see her smile when I rip her hair out, Suzume thought. What does she want with him anyway? I cannot believe he just lets her hang onto him. Didn't he say he loved Kazue? He must have been unfaithful and that's why she sealed him away.
Suzume liked this idea and it helped her climb the remainder of the hill. By the time she reached the top, the forest had begun to thin and she could see the mountains in the distance and specifically the mountain where their journey had started. She couldn't see the temple from this distance, but she could imagine it sitting against the backdrop of the blue-gray mountains, clouds swirling around it. I thought we had gotten farther away than this. She sighed. Are we ever going to reach the palace at this rate? With everything else that had happened as of late, she had almost forgotten her original motives. I don't even know what I'll do once I get there anymore.
She could not chase this thought further because the forest had grown silent. She could not hear the birds nor the wind in the trees. She glanced around for her companions, but they were nowhere to be seen. Not this again.
"You know, I'm really starting to get tired of these hide-and-seek games," Suzume shouted.
"Tired of the games?" a voice echoed back at her.
Suzume spun around, looking for the source. Nothing was there. "This isn't funny!"
"Not funny!" The voice cackled. It sounded like it was right by her shoulder. She arched her head in that direction.
There was nothing there but a slow-rolling fog.
"Kaito, Rin? Where are you?"
"All gone, they left the priestess alone."
A chill ran up Suzume's spine. She didn't like this, not even a little bit. She stepped forward. The fog swirled around her ankles like a veil and it obscured the forest floor.
Something brushed against her leg inside the fog and Suzume shrieked and backed away. She ran into something solid. She felt up and down and realized she had been backed into a tree.
"Tasty, pretty, tasty," something hissed inside the mist.
Why is this always happening to me?
Whatever it was drew closer. She could smell the decay hanging from it like a cloud. Her heart hammered in her chest and she felt the tingle on her skin, the fire under her skin c
oming to her rescue. Her power burned her fingertips. Suzume concentrated and listened for the sound of the creature. A twig cracked nearby and she focused on the spot where the sound came from. She pointed her hand in that direction. Flickering flames burst from her fingertips in the direction of the sound. It burned through the mist, and for a moment she saw a hint of mottled skin before it disappeared.
Heart pounding in her chest, she strained her ears, listening for the creature. Then she felt something like a beacon in her head, telling her to shoot to the left. She aimed both hands in that direction. The creature hissed and squealed in pain before everything went silent. Frozen in place, she could only hear her blood thundering in her ears. Then slowly, very slowly, the fog began to dissipate.
Suzume stayed with her back against the tree for a few moments, letting her heart slow down. She could hardly believe she had reacted that quickly. Once she regained her composure, she went over to look at the creature. It looked like a hunched-over old man, with a sparse covering of hair on its head and long pointed teeth in its mouth. In the middle of its chest was a burn mark where her power had hit it dead on.
Well, at least my powers came to my rescue when I needed them.
Footsteps fell on the soft ground covering and Suzume jerked her head up, hands at the ready to shoot fire at whoever approached her. A very short bald man with a round belly stood at the edge of the clearing.
"You! You're the idol from the shrine." She pointed at the bald man. Her voice seemed to echo back at her in the empty silence of the forest.
The short man gave her a serene smile. "That I am, and I've been looking for you."
"For me?" Suzume asked and pressed her hand to her chest. Why me?
"I owe you one more wish."
***
"What are you doing here, Rin?" Kaito said, breaking the silence.
The Priestess and the Dragon_Book 1 in the Dragon Saga Page 19