Quite the way to end summer break, wasn’t it? Only two days left to school returning to session like it normally would, yet everything in your life is topsy turvy.
Last night you had broken into the shrine. You met spirits and mikos, and learned of things only believed to belong in fairy tale books. Now, you are living in this mad fantasy, an apprentice onmyouji.
Your training was supposed to start this afternoon with two of the Onmyouji in the shrine: Keito
@Sho Minazuki and Niko. So, now you wait at the entrance torii gate with the others for your teachers to arrive.
With a few minutes to spare until the “class” was expected to begin, clicks of footsteps from wooden sandals could be heard running up the cobblestone stair pathway accompanied by gentle pants.
A young girl in miko clothes came to a stop from her sprint, folded over with her sweaty palms gripping her knees and breathing heavily from the trek. It wasn’t hard to notice she had almost toppled over the last step, but it was a good decision to just leave the observation at that.
”W-wah! I’m sorry I’m late! I was helping mother at the store, and—“ The long haired girl seemed to had lost her train of thought as she stood up straight, in her arms a small fluffy bundle which was snuggled up cozily against her. The little bundle cracked open a purple eye at the group, giving them a quick scan over before shutting again as a chocolate brown paw sleepily pulled the straw hat over it’s face to block out the rays of sunlight still coming through.
The cute little miko gave a wide grin with her eyes closed tight, pushing her shoulders back to face the group.
”Hiya! My name is Niko Kodomoppoi, Yang Water exorcist! It’s a pleasure to meet you all!” Niko paused and pointed lightly to the small creature she was carrying.
”This is Tsugu, my shikigami... ah, Tsugu, don’t be rude! Wake up and greet them!” The small girl pouted down at the tanuki, who just gazed up at her lazily in response.
”Hm... fine. Since you asked, princess.” In a puff of gray smoke, suddenly instead of a cute fluffy ball of fur there was a tall blonde man bearing the same sleepy but passive expression as the tanuki once had. He also happened to bear the same straw hat, ears and tail. Tsugu tucked his clawed hands into the roomy sleeves of his shirt, giving a wobbling grin through his flushed cheeks. Was he... drunk?
”How do you do?”The big hazel eyes of Niko opened, glancing about curiously.
”Ah, where’s Keito? Isn’t it late?”The tanuki gave a hum of thought, glancing up at the orange sky as if to check the time like it were a clock.
”No. You’re early, my dear.”Niko’s expression dropped into one of exhaustion and bewilderment as she stared in disbelief.
”Wah?? Why did I rush all the way from home then, Tsugu?!”The tanuki tail waved in delight as Tsugu chuckled in his throat, placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder.
”Now now, don’t look so down. You can sleep on my lap later, hm? I’m nice and cozy...” For some reason, the passive male gave you the shivers.
Was this girl really an experienced exorcist and Onmyouji? At the moment, it seemed hard to believe.