The old woman's frown deepened as she shook her head. "There's no one there."
Suzume's eyes widened and she turned back towards Kaito. He examined his nails and raised a brow at her when she gave him a questioning look. She can't see him? Why? Does it have something to do with this spell?
"Maybe you've had too much sun," the old woman said, though her expression was cautious. She inched backwards towards the empty pedestal.
Great, now this old lady thinks I'm crazy, Suzume thought.
"I need to head back to the village and tell the villagers. They'll be upset that the shrine has been disturbed. You are a priestess, please pray here that the Kami is not angered. The Kami blesses our crops and brings the rain. If he leaves because of this desecration, then that would mean disaster for the village." The old woman wrung her hands and tears gathered along her lashes.
Kaito snickered from behind Suzume. Suzume balled her hands into fists at her sides and did her best to pretend to be interested in what the old woman was saying. She even nodded a few times as the old woman continued to babble about the importance of the Kami to the village. How much more can she say about this Kami? What I don't understand is how a statue just up and walked away. There's some strange things going on around here and I'm not sure I want to stick around to figure out what. Going back and finding Daiki was starting to sound like a good idea right about now.
Suzume glanced at Kaito. He strolled around the shrine room, pretending to inspect the pedestal before stopping behind the old woman and mocking her as she spoke. He used a fake old woman voice as he repeated her words, "I have been coming here for years, how could this happen! My grandfather said the gods could be mercurial, what will we do!"
Suzume snorted then covered her mouth. The old woman did not notice and continued on with her monologue. This has to mean the Kami is behind the spell. It's the only logical explanation.
"It would mean a lot if you could help," the old woman finished and Suzume realized she had not been paying attention for most of her long-winded speech.
"Sure," Suzume said without thinking, just so she wouldn't be caught not paying attention. It was Kaito's fault, really. If he hadn't been mocking the old woman, Suzume would have been able to focus.
The old woman smiled and took Suzume's hands in her own. It seemed the old woman had gotten over her concerns about Suzume's sanity. The old woman shook Suzume's hands violently. She's surprisingly strong for someone that has to be pushing a hundred.
"Thank you so much. I know you'll be able to find the Kami." The old woman beamed. Tears fell down her cheeks.
Suzume's mouth dropped open. When did she agree to look for this wayward Kami? Oh, that's right, when grandma here took too long spitting out her request. Suzume sighed.
The old woman had already grabbed her basket and shuffled down the pathway back towards the village. Suzume watched her go, at a loss for what to do next. Well, I guess I needed to find this Kami anyway.
"You're very generous to help those villagers; Kazue was like that too. She was always looking out for others." Kaito had snuck up behind Suzume and had his arms wrapped around her waist. His lips brushed against her neck and the feel of his mouth so close to her flesh sent a shiver down her spine.
Stop it. Don't be lulled by his sweet words. She broke free of his grasp and faced him, with her hands on her hips.
"Let's get a couple things straight here. I am not Kazue. I am not helping these people out of the goodness of my heart. I am doing this because I need to find that Kami to have him remove the spell that's on you. And I need you to explain why that old woman couldn't see you!"
He barked a laugh. "That's simple, because she doesn't have any spiritual power. If I do not choose to let a human see me, then they cannot."
It was Suzume's turn to raise a skeptical brow. "But everyone at the shrine could see you…"
"And they were all priestesses. Unlike you, many of them were chosen for their powers, not as a punishment from their father."
She glared daggers at him. "How do you know that? I never told you why I was at the temple."
He laughed again. "I heard things while we were there. I know that your mother was found in bed with another man and she was exiled for it. I know that your father also disowned you and all of your siblings that he had with your mother."
Suzume crossed her arms over her chest. She didn't like the idea of Kaito knowing more about her than she knew about him. "You shouldn't pry into my personal business," she snapped at him before spinning away to face the empty pedestal where the Kami's idol had once sat. A lone acorn lay there. It would have been funny if she wasn't frustrated.
Kaito came over and leaned against the pedestal in Suzume's line of sight. "I know more about you than you know about yourself, Suzume."
Her back grew rigid and she recoiled. He called me by my given name. He hardly does that. Not without mocking me, anyway. Ever since the spell had fallen on him, he had been alternating between calling her Suzume and Kazue. "Or so you say." She brushed off his apparent affection. It was all a trick anyway. "How do we find this missing Kami, then?"
"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 reason
s, 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."
27
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 nearly 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 di
d 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.
The Dragon Saga Box Set Page 19