ShipTeaser

  “There it is.” Mine-san observed, the shrine ing into view. We had already captured Kodai-ji, which being a retively modern shrine (built in the sixteen-hundreds) it didn’t have a resident kami, though we did bring in some Kodama, tree spirits, into Yamato-san’s fold. On seeing them he finally uood what I meant by adding troops, and was able to start strug Barracks in his Territory.

  Up ahead, the Yasaka-jinja shrine was ing into view. We had cut our way through the undead, as well as several groups of lesser creatures, such as a swarm e s, who were far less friendly than the Mirror Bees apparently were. I had let Mine-san and Naruhito-san hahe rger crowds with their divine favour, while Eri gained what experience she could hag down mobs around the edges. Still, Eri had gained yet another level out of it, and Kana no lorembled in fear on seeing the undead, though her spear-work was still hiriously sloppy.

  “As this is a shrine dedicated to Susanoo, Kushinada-Hime a of their offspring, it is a point of faal pride to protect it.” Yamato-san said, pleased, as the beautiful building came into view, rger than ierial, the roof shining ruby and polished brown wood, though strangely enough a rge and aree towered out of the tre of it, rising hundreds of metres into the sky. As we secured Koda-ji, it linked up to his Territory, so even if we failed to go further, he would have gained security and a new, closer front to press on to -in. And as we progressed even closer he was being more and more jovial, his pair of golden statues barely even having to fight.

  “Great. Well, let’s get this done.” I decred, aered the grounds of the shrihe tree loomed over us, branches spread out, dozens of pretty birds looking rather like parakeets peering down on us with their unblinking eyes, and the shriself was revealed to be solid, varnished wood, pted with ruby and gilded with golden leaf. Statues of the eight children veed here surrouhe entrance, and as roached, the door opened, and out stepped a woman. No, she only looks like a woman.

  Her appearance was too sculpted to actually be real, and her brown robes were seemingly living wood, small shoots and sprouts growing at noticeable speed from her clothes. Dark brown hair, tinged with green and red, cascaded down behind her, and where she stepped, sprouts grew beh her.

  “Like, just whoa!” Mine-san said, eyes wide. “I feel her nature energy. It’s powerful! She puts the kami in my shrio shame!”

  I agreed, feeling the waves of nature element p from her, even eclipsing Hyath. As she looked at us with eyes the colour of mossy bark, Yamato-san decided to speak, bowing before her.

  “Great kami, it is an honour to meet you. I am one blessed by Kannon, goddess of Mercy. You… you are Tsumatsu-hime, daughter of Susanoo, aren’t you?”

  “I am.” She spoke, her voice melodious, and the wood around us vibrated, shimmering with aether and adherence. “I am she. It has been long since I have versed with any other beings.” She paused, ptive. “The spiritual power here is growing, yet it is difficult for beings such as I to ma here. My brothers and sisters, they ot be supported yet, so I alone have entwined my being with an avatar here.” Her eyes were distant, as she surveyed us. “The shrine… only my efforts have kept it from destru, but now my duty is over.” Her skin, which ure white, suddenly turned a woody brown, matg her robes, and I realised what I had taken for the kami was actually some sort of wooden puppet, and ihe roots from the great tree in the tre of the shrine were growing into her feet, making her part of the shriself.

  Avatar of Tsumatsu-hime [kam - ???

  As my Eye bzed, she reacted, meeting my gaze.

  “I see. A power of a Tree not from this nd.” Tsumatsu-hime intoned. “Yet you are blessed by some of the eight million, the myriad deities of our sacred nd. And…” she snaked closer, on her roots. Soon she eering into my eyes, her breath close enough to ruffle my hair. “… such rich water, with a taste from a far-off nd. Would… would you nourish me, stranger?”

  Okay, I was not expeg this. And she’s a bit too close… “I spare some spirit water, yes.” I agreed, drawing on my reserves, creating a palmful of water that shimmered with luminous silver energy, moonlight. With my hands held out, pushed together to make a crude bowl, I watched as she bent down to drink. This feels rather sacrilegious…

  “Oshiro-san, I don’t think you should…” Yamato-san began, but Eri silenced him.

  “She asked, didn’t she? I’ve met kami before, so I know they are no different than us at heart.”

  “That’s right.” Kana agreed, revelling in seeiaking the lead ahead of Yamato-kun, in one of Susanoo’s own shrines. “Besides, she asked for an . It would be g faith to turn her down after that, right?”

  “That water…” Naruhito-san was transfixed on the glimmering energy within my hands. “… so powerful. Just where did you get it?”

  “Far from here. Very far from here.” I replied, unfortable as her lips touched the water in my hands. She began to drink, and as she did so, the water energy in me was being pulled out, and I could see a deep e glow shimmering around her.

  “Sthening.” She spoke, water running dowhroat and chest, dripping onto the roots below her. Everyone else was silent now, as the League of the avatar was fully unleashed, oppressing everyone else. Yamato-san was merely a little pale, but the others were shaking from the force of her existence. “I fear this is but a struct to tain a measure of my sciousness. I am Tsumatsu-hime, yet not all of Tsumatsu-hime, for my true League would likely shatter this fragile Boundary, and you are not ready. Though…” she smiled at me then, and though she now looked strange, like a living tree-woman, nothing like Asha, eared rgely human, it was somehow alluring. “…you are passable, mortal man. And your water was sweet and nourishing, like none I have had before, a gift from another realm. Allow me to reward you.” She said, when around half of my water element reserve was drained.

  As the thought of reassed through my mind, I felt some impay back. Turning my head, I saw Eri had whacked me with the ft of her axe, while Kana had jabbed me with the spear. It did nothing, of course, but seeing them both pouting was amusing.

  “Oh hey, is this like, a bloodbath?” Mine-san was asking my sis, whed.

  “No way, this stuff happens all the time with my bro now. To think I was calling him a virgin loser only a few months ago…”

  “A reward?” I asked, and she nodded. ”You have the affinity. Pure, beautiful water, rich, stroh. Bloom with me!” she said, and her roots burst into fllorious white and golden blossoms springing to life, giving off a calming fragrance. Red and yellow energies bleogether, f a shining brown light. One root came from her hand, and it glittered brilliantly with adherence, my Eye easily pig up the sheer quantity of it, and an amber message scrolled ay vision, the letters dazzlingly bright, quickly followed by several more sentences.

  Your Css, Kami-Blessed, has increased from level 6 to level 9.

  Your Fortune has increased by one. Your Charm and Majesty has increased by two.

  Your Aether has increased by y-nine.

  It’s been a while si’s gone up, and now three levels at once? Well, I did feel it was close to levelling when Shirohebi accepted the Throne of Heroes. Even so… Well, she was a daughter of Susanoo, so even if Tsumatsu-hime was not a particurly powerful kami, she was closer to a powerful divinity than Shirohebi or the jade beetle was.

  “That’s quite the reward, I thank…” I began, only to be cut off as the root split into two, pierg my body, plunging into my root and sacral chakras. Ruby and silver blood gushed, and Eri cried out, readying her axe, but I raised a hand to stop her.

  “It’s all right, she means no harm, and this level of injury won’t stop me.” I promised.

  “Indeed, I merely wish to return the favour you have shown me. Now… feel the energy of the wood for which I am worshipped flow through you, and use it to build a shelter to save this nd, this world. For I am the kami of wood, used to build houses safe from the elements, where one be safe and endure, give birth to life aurn to the soil ih.”

  I could feel it, a brown energy growing within my chakras, joining the others. It felt simir to the energy Hyath used, and Mine-san. Closing my eyes I tried to focus on it, how it reted to water ah, feeling the energy of nature.

  You have gained a skill, Root and Sacral Chakras of Wood Rank 1. Your Chakras will gee Wood energy. [Css: Powerful] [Type: Foundation]

  You have gained a skill, Wood Manipution Rank 1. You have gaihe ability to manipute and trol Wood and Nature energy. Your uanding of Nature has slightly increased. [Css: Powerful] [Type: Foundation]

  “I see you uand. Use this power well, mortal. For uhose with bravery and will stand strong, this world, like so many others, is doomed.” She let out a long sigh. “The Wood within you is weak, but it shall grow. Nurture it, and the powerful Nature it tains will bloom. Defend this shrine, do not let it fall to the forces of ruin.”

  “I will.” I promised, bowing. “And thank you. I’ll use it wisely.”

  “Wait.” Yamato-san spoke then, impatient. “I am the one whose domain will cover and protect this shrine. I not share in yifts as well?” he asked, and the kami regarded him, her eyes shiftiween green and brown in the light of the Boundary overhead.

  “Your attributes are metal and light. You are not suitable.” She looked over the others. “Fme and darkness. Earth. Fme and light.” She pronounced Eri’s, Kana’s and Aiko’s in turn.

  “Light? Wow, strange. I’ve not even mastered it yet.” She grinned. “Must be fate I guess. Eri and I, two sides of the same .”

  “You are water, but ck the earth.” She said to Naruhito-san, before finally speaking to Mine-san. “You, you harbour the earth, the blessing of divinity from anod of nature.”

  “Yeah, that weird Ugajin.” She agreed. “Growth and decay.”

  “You could accept some strength from me, but I am spent. The powerful water I took in, which I ged to my energy, it is all dried up.”

  Mine-san spun, turning to look at me then. “Uh, so, like… hey, I don’t know how to ask this, but… you got any water left iank, handsome? I could really use that boost!”

  “No way, why should he?” Eri protested. “Akio’s already brought you all this far!”

  “I have to agree.” Kana nodded. “Why should he give up power for you?”

  My sis merely gave me a troubled smile, allowio decide. Though really, it’s just depleting my stock of water element, I’ll replenish it in a day or so… though it will mean I’ll be down a trump card in any battles here. “Well, it’ll leave me noticeably less powerful in battle for quite some time.” I exaggerated. “I don’t really want to risk it, unless…”

  “Unless?” Mine-san asked, leaning forwards, keen.

  “Well, I’d need pensation. I’m already helping out a lot. I o get fair value for what I offer.”

  “pensation, huh? Like what? You want a kiss, handsome? If I do that, yirls here will kill me.”

  “I’m not so shallow as that.” I shook my head. “I mean, you’ve got an iing style, but I’m not so starved for female pany I o buy it.”

  “Well, how about this.” She turo Yamato-san. “I’m in your fa, right? It only makes seo power me up! You work out a deal with him, right Yamato-sama?”

  “He already owes me.” I pined.

  “You wish to take part of this light element, right?” Yamato-san offered. “I allow it.”

  “Hey, I’ve already earhat and more by helping you recim the shrines and killing that damn pot. I want more.”

  “Fine.” He agreed. “I shall speak to my father. Your voice will be heard at cve, and if you propose something… reasonable… I’ll back you.”

  Well, promises are nice, but I’ve no guarantee he won’t try and cheat me. Although sidering I showed my strength, it seems a risk he wouldn’t be willing to take. I then had an idea. “Excuse me, sumatsu-hime…”

  “Yes, bearer of sweet water?” she replied.

  “ you offer your blessing to my girls?” I gestured to them. “I don’t meaal power or anything, just your favour.” Kana already has Kami-blessed, and Eri and Aiko don’t, but the Brown Dog of the Mountains has accepted them, so maybe…

  “My favour? For those who reached this shrihat is not an unreasonable request.” Spreading her arms wide, they grew into branches, and the leaves were glowing brown, e and red. “Children of this nd, the faithful… all of you have been accepted by the kami. Some of you bear their gifts…” she looked at Mine-san and the other two. “While some of you are merely favoured children.” She regarded Eri, Kana and Aiko then. “… I pray that your paths are worthy ones, and that you survive what is to e.”

  She the down, drinking from my cupped hands once more… This was a bigger deal than I thought. Shaeu might be sorry she missed out. Oh well, she is pretty nervous arouh element anyway…

  ********

  “Wow, so I’ve finally got a css? That’s awesome bro, good job!” she said, hugging Eri, who also had the same css. They were both Kami-Blessed at level two, while Kana’s had likely gone up as well. I wasn’t sure if the three from Susanoo gai or levels as well, but I thought it likely. Damn, I’ve overperformed. If I don’t get pensation after all this, I’m going to throw my lot in with Amaterasu for sure…

  “Damn, I feel, like, so much stronger now!” Mine-san flexed, shimmering with nature energy. “Thanks for that, Akio-kun. I call you that, right? We’re best buddies now, aren’t we?”

  “I don’t know about that, but I’m happy for you.” I said, at a loss from her boisterous, forersonality. She giggled, before speaking more seriously.

  “Thank you, man. You too, Yamato-sama, for c the bill for me.” She bowed to us both. “Now I be more of a help, and Ugajin might not be ashamed of me.”

  “I am pleased for you.” Tsumatsu-hime said, her leaves going red and brown, as her strength was expended. “Though I am now most weary. I shall slumber for a while. Please, protect this shrine, Kyoto, this nd.” And with that her eyes slid shut, and she transformed fully into a tree.

  “I see. I cim this pow.” Yamato-san said, shutting his eyes, and I felt a surge of aether as the Territory enveloped it.

  “Great, so now it’s just the final push, right?” I asked, and he agreed.

  “Yes, to -in. When that is solidated, only Rokuharamitsu-ji to the west remains, but I believe I capture that myself, now.” He grinned. “Father will be very pleased, and I doubt that Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi are having simir success.”

  “Don’t fet who you owe a good k of that to.” Eri spoke up, surprising him. After some thought he hen asked a question.

  “You talked of gaining csses. That sounds rather like a video game. Just what did you mean?”

  “Well, certais gairength.” I said, tapping my Eye, as it glowed amber. “My Eye just rationalises that. But I’m sure you gaihe bes from Tsumatsu-hime’s blessing as well.”

  “Hmm. I see we o talk more about this ter.” He then looked over Eri and the ain. “And those without divine favour be as well, and grow stronger?”

  “Like I said, if they put in the work, they grow stronger.” I reiterated. “Anyway, time is wasting here. I want to capture -in, so we’re doh this. I have a ton to do ter.”

  “I agree.” Yamato-san said, thinking. “I have much to do myself…”

  “All right. Onwards to -in.” I decred, and we pushed through the streets and the grounds of other smaller temples and shrines. We ran into several minor kami of the strength of Shirohebi, as the shrines were brought under Yamato-san’s trol. Sadly, si was him who was bringing their Territory safely under his prote, they wouldn’t give us any blessings, so we were uo increase our Kami-Blessed csses any further. Damn selfish kami. Oh well, Kyoto is full of them, I’m determio at least get to level ten, that usually increases League at the least…

  “You know… I think it’s been nearly a kilometre already, right?” my sis pointed out, being used to running simir distances. “I don’t think his Territory will reach -in itself.”

  At that Yamato-san frowned. “Perhaps. But we will get very close. From a pce of safety I still protect it using the Hands of Fiveness.”

  “I guess that makes sense.” I agreed. And it’s not my problem anyway. I’ve done more than my fair share. Now Yamato-san owes me big-time, as does Mine-san. “In that case… wait, do you hear that?” I asked, my perception pig up what sounded like carriage wheels on cobbles, as well as the sizzling of fmes, and the cries of the damned. “… hold on.” I held up a hand, drawing oher to expand my visual range, my Eye fring amber. It was disorientatiremely so, as my vision focused in like using binocurs, even passing through buildings and obstacles. Looking through clothes isn’t all this Eye do…

  “What is it?” Kana whispered, moving closer. Everyone waited for my answer, even Yamato-san, as I had proved my talents amply during this expedition.

  “Looks like… massive burning wagon wheels, with human heads inside. Pretty ugly looking bastards…”

  Wanyūdō [Katasharin] - ???

  “Looks like they are a type of Yokai called Katasharin?” I observed, and Naruhito-san drew in a breath, shocked. Yamato-san looked troubled as well, but the rest of us had no idea.

  “They are powerful yokai, evil people trapped after death by demonic masters, sent out in burning torment to find vulnerable souls and drag them down to their infernal lords.”

  “ we hahem?” My sis asked, and I thought about it.

  “Well, I’m pretty much out of water element, but I have other ways. I’m more curious as to whether they are with the Night Parade. If they have human heads, perhaps they unicate. They seem to be speaking to each other, anyway.”

  “That seems uhe Night Parade are our enemies and stalk Kyoto in the shadows, and we ot stand against them.” Yamato-san disagreed. “We should let them pass and press to -in, or if not, at least ambush them.”

  “Normally I’d agree with you, but… I have my reasons.” I shrugged. “Besides, if it’s a foe you ’t defeat, then you have another optiht?”

  I looked at Eri and Aiko, who nodded in uanding, having heard Shaeu tell of our first meeting a number of times. They also knew her mother was in the Night Parade, so quickly grasped my iions.

  “Just let my bro ha. Worst es to worst and you’ve already achieved a lot this afternoht?” Aiko ented. “Besides, bro will beat them like that i pht?”

  “Yeah, so stay under cover.” I said, as the wheels rolled down a street near us, heading in h dire. “If I need you, I’ll call.” With that I ran several streets a out into the path of the four burning wheels, which screeched to a halt, surprised, filling the air with the st of sulphur.

  “Hi there. Mind if I ask, would you happen to be followers of the Night Parade?” I could hear the others creeping closer, hiding in the alleyways, watg me pary with the yokai.

  Howling ughter came from the wheels, their fmes bzing, and I felt my skin smoulder. Even so, it was rather bearable, any minor injury to my flesh healing quickly with Ether Healing, but Aiko and Kana would probably struggle to be too close without taking injury. “Was something I said funny?” I asked mildly.

  “This human is foolish indeed.” One wheel spat, and a sed answered him, before the third and fourth chimed in.

  “Io stand in front of the Katasharin, is asking for oo be taken before the infernal court.”

  “Yes. It has been long since we st caught a mortal. We will be praised!”

  “It was well worth roaming ahead of the main Parade during this day! The Grand Katasharin will be pleased!”

  Grand Katasharin? Well, they mentiohe Parade, so I was right. I guess some branch out and do their own thing. That’s better than having to face the entire Parade at once, as judging by the strength of Kinneka and Ginneka we’d just get murdered…

  “Well, in that case, I greet you on behalf of the h of the Parade.” I decred fidently. My keen ears picked up a gasp from Yamato-san, who was able to listen in, even from his hiding spot.

  “h? What is this foolish mortal saying? That is that stupid cat.”

  “Such foolish lies will not save you. e with us to hell, enjoy the fmes and the torment!”

  Ign the twinge of pain that sparked at the bay mind and bonds, I pressed on. “Actually it was Kinneka. But now he’s dead, and a Kamaitachi holds the h rank.”

  “Those weasels? Troubling. She’s Tweh, right?”

  “Ihere is already a Kamaitachi. Your lies are worthless.”

  “Enough discourse! We should drag this mortal away, listen to his screams!”

  “Yes, yes! Let us do that! Profaning the good name of the Night Parade… perhaps we should give him to Nurarihyon?”

  I see. A female Kamaitachi, The Tweh? That… that’s likely Shaeu’s mother, right? Still, it looks like they aren’t willing to believe me, so…

  Roars and screams of baleful fury echoed out as the four wheels rushed at me from multiple dires. Their fmes bzed, and I immediately started taking damage, though due to my elemental resistances from Ether Healing and overall toughness, it was bearable. Drawing my Fangs, the first wheel on me, and I sshed. The bdes bit into wood, the momentum f my feet to slide a little along the floor, before a sed smmed into my arm. Bone creaked and flesh burned, but as a third came my way I drew on Foehn, and it went up like a bzing torch, the wood charring and crag, flesh searing. The wheel toppled, falling onto its side as it was ed, and as the fourth tried rolling arouo attack from behind it ran into a glittering haze of vibrating jade strings of wind. Yeah, just because it has its own fmes doesn’t mean hotter, better ones don’t work…

  “Such pain… why?” the wheel cried. Its wood was harder than steel, yet even so, momentum and the vibrating edge of the wind bio shear through, splinters flying everywhere, and the head within was bisected, falling apart in a welter of red and silver.

  “That is her teique!” The wheel held by my bdes cried, and the other tried to trample me again, breathing out a stream of toxic fmes in my dire. I blocked that with aion of earth, and my sshing bdes chipped away at the wheel pressing in on me, until Rending triggered, and space shuddered, the head exploding.

  You have gained in strength. Your level has increased from Eighty-Eight to Eighty-Nine. All of your Material statistics…

  he st wheel, the other having burned away, tried to retreat, but there was no way I was allowing that to happen. “Hang on a minute. By her, you mean that Tweh, right? The Kamaitachi?”

  “I must retreat, return to the Parade…” the Wanyūdō screeched, eyeing the corpses of its panions. “Such trouble should be dealt with firmly, cruelly!”

  “Not yet.” Spires of earth ripped free, pierg through the gaps in the spokes, holding the wheel in pce. “I think you ought to stay put.”

  “Let… let me go!” the wheel struggled, but it was useless, as even as it tried to pull free or burn the rock spikes, I reinforced them with more earth element.

  “No, answer my questions.” I said firmly. “I want to know about the Kamaitachi.”

  “I am trapped, my fellows sin. Such disappoi.” The wheel fought back, reversing course, trying to run me down. It caught me a little by surprise, but I was not so foolish as to my defences, and Foehn sparked to life, and the wheel cried, pinned in pd bzing until it colpsed to ash aher.

  Damn. I clicked my tongue in frustration. The Wanyūdō were clearly minions of this Grand Katasharin, who is likely one of the Hundred Demons. So they know Shaeu’s mother. Oh well… As the others emerged from hiding, Kana and the irls looking at me with sparkling eyes, Yamato-san clearly worried, I shrugged. “Well, I didn’t get the information I wanted, but I told you I could hahem. They weren’t weak by any means, their fiery aura ain, but I’m damn tough.” Yeah, I’d have struggled back when I was in the high forties, probably, before my stats got their huge boost and I got extra resistances and Fortitude from the Furious Earth. Obviously, if these were just stragglers from one Demon of the Parade, taking on the whole thing would be total suicide.

  “You really showed them!” Kana cheered, eyeing Yamato-san sideways. “If you were here in Kyoto, I bet you could clear it up!”

  “Don’t go overpraising me.” I ughed. “I don’t want to get arrogant. Sure, I won, but they weren’t weak. If their Grand Katasharin and more of the wheels came at me at once, I’d be under real pressure, no doubt. Anyway, they’re done, we should move on.”

  “Before we do…” Yamato-san said, frowning. “You said you were with the h of the Night Parade, I heard it clearly.”

  “Yes. Shaeu is the daughter of a fn prind one of the Night Parade. The Tweh, it seems.” I said, unwilling to lie, as Shaeu roud of her heritage. “On killing a member of the Night Parade, the h, she became one of the Parade. Though obviously she has no iion of joining it and roaming the nd doing evil. No, she merely wishes to see her main. Hence why I wanted information. Not that they would talk…” I he shattered fragments of one wheel with my foot, still irritated. “I trust this isn’t an issue? If anything, it makes my aid more valuable. We ’t face the Parade head-on, this fight just proves it.” The Wanyūdō were basically trash-clearers, unless you had enough strength to resist their baleful, fiery aura, you’d perish quickly, so it wasn’t like numbers could do the job either.

  “I… I will o take word of this to my father.” Yamato-san said finally. “But before that, we must cim all the Territory I .”

  “Yeah, let’s like, get the hell out of here. First the pot, then those ugly wheels. I’m so doh this.” Mine-san pouted. “Though I guess getting my power-up retty sweet. Hey, you want to hit a bar afterwards, Akio-kun? My treat! I owe you!”

  I could see Eri puffing up annoyed, but it wasn’t as if I was going to anyway. “No, sorry, I probably have to meet the ral shrines after this. Chiyo-san was arranging that. But maybe aime.”

  “Sure, aime. Did I just get turned down? Like, woah!” she giggled, and my sis patted her on the back reassuringly.

  “You ought to keep out of my bro’s clutches anyway. He’s a true harem protagonist, only he’s actually getting some a!”

  Eri flushed at that, hissing her name, while Kana looked away, also a little pink.

  “All right. Enough of that.” Yamato-san said, and Naruhito-san agreed. “Time to finish this! Kyoto is still full of danger…”

  ********

  “So, how was it?” I asked Kana as she opened her eyes, ba the Material. Eri and my sis were already up, stretg tired muscles. Several hours had passed, and it was now the evening. On cheg my phone I had seen messages from Chiyo-san, so I sent a reply indig I would travel to the meeting she had arranged as soon as possible, while als off a few texts to other people I o tact.

  “Pretty scary. But… you were cool, I have to admit it.” She grinned.

  “So, ready yet?” My sis asked her, and Kana shook her head.

  “All right then. It’s your life.” Eri said ominously. “The doors are closing. I don’t like it, but we all came to a decision. You o as well.”

  “Look, well… oh hell, I don’t know. It’s a big decision, isn’t it?” she sighed. “ we… look, Akio has to go out, right? Want to go somewhere too?”

  “Your treat?” my sis asked, and Kana nodded sourly. Shaeu, who had also been watg this, snickered.

  “You are as amusing as ever Kana. I do-do rather approve of you.”

  “So, did ary anything while we were sleeping?” I asked and she shook her head.

  “No, everything eaceful. I did not-not expeything, but it is better to be safe than to be sorry, is it not-not?”

  “Yes, definitely. Anyway, sihe girls are going out… well, Eri should be able to keep them safe I imagine. Shaeu, we o talk on route.”

  “Oh?” she cocked her head quizzically.

  “Yes, I found out some information. Just a little. On… on your mother.”

  ShipTeaser