My talk with Taira no Tadatsune honestly left me in a bit of a mood, I can admit that much. Which is how I found myself sitting concealed on the roof of my assigned room. Staring at the setting sun while lost in thought.
It is a scene that is only interrupted when I feel a familiar presence approaching, and I don't bother to turn my head as Kamo-Sensei comes and sits by my side.
"Do you have any idea how hard it can be to find you?" He begins, not waiting for a response. "I wouldn't have thought you would be staring off into the distance like a princess locked away. It's creepy. Seeing you without a smile is kind of gross. Your smile really is the only thing keeping you a step away from being hideous to look at."
My brows furrow into confused disbelief as I turn enough to look at him through the side of my eye. "Was that really necessary? You could have just said 'Hello' and stopped at that you know?"
Kamo-Sensei shrugs with an impish grin. "Don't care~. Besides, I am annoyed at you you know?"
"Why, exactly?"
Kamo-Sensei doesn't respond verbally. Instead, he pushes his Cursed Energy in a specific path that invokes the feeling of imaginary chains tightening around my being.
Kami damnit.
Right, I forgot about that.
With his grin still on his face, Kamo-Sensei notes my reaction and simply reaches into his robe and pulls out a mask.
A Gigaku mask.
"I hate you."
"No you don't~."
"Throw yourself off a mountain."
"You'd catch me~."
A sigh leaves me, resigned, as I snatch the mask from his dumb stupid hands.
"Wait," Kamo-Sensei interrupts as I grumpily climb to my feet. "I need to make sure you know the dance first. And, I heard an interesting rumour that you have come into possession of an intriguing Cursed Tool. Gimme~."
I face him with a glare, equal parts baffled as annoyed. "How in Yomi do you even know about that?"
Who has even seen Tamamo's gift? Shōshi and her entourage, the Taira guy a couple of hours ago. Maybe I showed it off last night while I was drunk?
"Tehepero~," is Kamo-Sensei's response, sticking his tongue out at me.
I really hate this guy, I think with a smile, laughing slightly despite myself.
Another, longer sigh leaves me.
This is going to be embarrassing as all hell, but that embarrassment and Kamo-Sensei's happiness is an improvement to moping around, so whatever.
Plus, I can't deny that a part of me is actually looking forward to it. It'll be a novel new experience if nothing else.
With that in mind, I resign myself to my fate and follow along with Kamo-Sensei's whimsy.
///
Kamo no Yasunori
///
"Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha-! Can't breathe! Hahahahaha!"
Collapsed on the floor, Yasunori can only helplessly point and laugh as Narauko does his stupid dance from the roof of the Imperial Palace. Struggling to get any air in as the sight near kills him with laughter.
This is the greatest moment of my life! He thinks with exuberance, regaining control of his faculties only enough to chance another glance at Narauko's masked figure before bursting out into renewed laughter.
"Hahahahahahaha! Dying~! I'm dying! Hahahahahaha!"
In the brief moments of calm he manages to force himself into, Yasunori does not hesitate to use every moment printing as many 'pictures' as he possibly can from the intriguing Cursed Tool Narauko has somehow come across.
And he is really interested in where in Yomi it came from, as well as who made it. It is not often that Yasunori is left in the dark on subjects he is interested in, and this 'Thief of Time' is a truly interesting concept.
Being able to capture a scene so perfectly would have so many practical uses. Even just for gathering evidence, or blackmail. Especially blackmail, because that is more useful to a person like Yasunori.
Still, he is hardly going to steal from Narauko.
Because somehow, someway, Yasunori has started considering the absurd brat as a friend.
Truly an odd thing to realise.
Eventually however, the show must sadly come to an end.
Yasunori feels the presence of a number of approaching Onmyōji, which means that Narauko has almost certainly noticed them too. Yet, the brat doesn't flee immediately. Instead, he keeps dancing—which again leaves Yasunori in tears laughing—until the very last moment when the Sorcerers would have arrived.
Narauko's figure between one moment and the next disappears, and is almost immediately replaced by a trio of Onmyōji.
From his place a secure distance away, Yasunori watches the trio look around briefly before disappearing in search of Narauko.
The street is unfortunately empty, as it is late, which is very vey unfortunate. It would have been even funnier if there was a crowd.
Still, with the show over, there is no more reason to remain, leaving him to return to his abode with an armful of photos and Narauko's Cursed Tool. He is sure the brat will show up to collect it in the morning.
That thought spurs another, bringing to mind the odd relationship that has developed between the two of them.
Specifically, odd in the way that Yasunori cares about it.
Since when did he care about anyone? Even Tengen is only a friend in the loosest sense of the word.
But with Narauko... He isn't sure what it is. The damn kid is just a truly difficult person to not like.
Normally, Yasunori would have used his absence to take apart this Cursed Tool of his and learn everything he can about it. Not that he isn't going to spend the rest of his night studying it, but this is different.
Because Narauko clearly values this Cursed Tool quite highly, and yet, he left it in Yasunori's hands. Simply trusting that he, a friend, would keep it safe and sound in his absence. And for somereason... Yasunori does not want to betray that trust.
It is truly strange, how much has changed since that boy's introduction to the world.
Or, perhaps as Tengen said, it is he that has changed.
Yasunori is not someone who has ever put much effort towards playing around. His time and effort has always been more focused on research.
So when was the last time that he ever let loose like this? When was the last time that he ever did something, not for some gain or other, but simply to have a laugh?
Since when did he ever laugh so much, or so honestly?
It truly is strange. That boy is changing him without even realising it. He has a way of believing in you so unconditionally that it makes you want to live up to his hopes for you.
And Yasunori is falling into that trap.
How embarrassing.
It's just a shame that Narauko will die someday.
Shaking his head, Yasunori lets out a short chuckle as he turns to return to his room, tossing Narauko's 'camera' up and down in one hand as he goes.
Whatever, he thinks to himself. Coming to a simple conclusion for what to do about the apparent changes Narauko is causing within him. Whatever happens, happens~.
///
Narauko
///
"So embarrassing, so embarrassing, so embarrassing, so embarrassing." A pathetic groan leaves my throat as I make my way back to my room, not even watching where I am going with my palms covering my face.
I am so embarrassed.
That doesn't stop me from smiling widely, feeling exuberant at the wealth of new emotions bubbling within me, but it's still embarrassment. I can't believe I had to do that~!
Kami, what a low point in my life, I think mirthfully.
Soon enough though, I do make it back to my room, resolving to pick up my camera from Kamo-Sensei in the morning. Maybe kick him in the dick at the same time too. Wait, no, I can just feed him Evil Saké.
Hehehe, we will see who has the most embarrassing memories.
"What has you smiling so evilly?" I blink at the unexpected voice as I enter my room, turning to see Tamamo lying there in my futon once more, a sight that has me smiling. "Evil looks good on you~."
"Oh really~?" I send her a teasing smile, wiggling my brows at her, an act that has her giggling behind a hand.
"Indeed~. Though, your earnest face is still better~."
A chuckle leaves me at that, and I only shake my head in response. Smiling as I walk up to the futon and drop down next to her, pulling her against me as I flop to the floor.
Tamamo accepts the movement, snuggling against my chest, and we remain like that for a while, comfortable in silence.
Eventually however, I feel Tamamo's hand start to slide south, and I look down to see her smirking playfully up at me.
Matching the expression, I happily resign myself to another long night.
///
No smut this time cuz ion wonna :)
///
Waking up with Tamamo in my arms is never not going to be a good thing, but today is not a day that I will get to enjoy a lie-in with her. For today is bound to be busy.
After all, the inter-school competition begins today! I'm excited just thinking about it! So many Techniques to see! I wanna see what everyone is capable of!
I want to see it.
An obnoxious knocking at the door pulls my attention from the crumpets Tamamo and I were once more sharing, leaving me glancing between the food, Tamamo and the door.
An amused huff from besides me pulls my eyes before I feel Tamamo's tails push me to my feet. "Go on~, no need to hold yourself back for my sake. You are so eager~."
Laughing at her tone, I peck a quick kiss on her cheek and lay my plate down before walking to the door.
It slides open to reveal Kamo-Sensei, which I sort of expected from the knock.
"Ew, don't smile at me like that," is how he greets me, but I'm in too good of a mood to punch him through a wall for it.
"Like you would be the reason I'm smiling," I return. A brief thought pulses through my mind, and I quicky decide fuck it and half step to the side. "We were just having breakfast, wanna join us?"
Kamo-Sensei raises a brow at me. "We?" He parrots with a growing smirk.
If he was expecting me to flush though then he is bound to be disappointed as I simply nod my head and turn to walk back to my seat, already knowing he will follow. If only out of curiosity for who I am eating with.
Tamamo raises an inquisitive brow in my direction as I re-enter the room, but a simple shake of the head is all that is needed to convey my response.
Kamo-Sensei is someone I trust. Him knowing about Tamamo won't cause any problems, so there's no need for her to disguise herself from him.
Plus, I just want all the people I care about to know and befriend each other as well.
Kamo-Sensei enters the room at the same time that I retake my seat, and he immediately freezes mid-step when his eyes alight on Tamamo.
The woman in question simply raises a placid, challenging brow in his direction while slowly taking another bite of her crumpet, the picture of casualness.
And then Kamo-Sensei ruins the scene by bursting out laughing. Truly busting a gut so severely that he winds up falling to the floor and pointing at me.
I have no idea what about this he finds so funny, but the laughter is infectious and so I wind up laughing too, even if I don't get why. Tamamo just looks at us both like we're crazy though, so there is that.
"You never cease to amaze, Narauko-kun~!" Kamo-Sensei exclaims with great mirth once he manages to get his laughter under control. "This is just too funny~! Kami you are my favourite person~."
"Why thank you." I smile at the compliment, offering him a crumpet as he approaches, eyes never leaving Tamamo.
"Kamo no Yasunori," he introduces himself with a slight bow.
"Tamamo no Mae."
"Hmmm? Familiar name," he says and eh? Familiar? I don't get to ask before he's laughing again. "Hahaha! You should be that Kitsune's student right~? Man~, this is so funny~."
"I am not Hagoromo's student, she only claimed herself my teacher," Tamamo clarifies, to which Kamo-Sensei simply shrugs, completely not giving a shit. God he's such an ass. "Hagoromo is dead besides."
"Eh? For real? How does an Ultimate-class Yōkai die without anyone hearing about it?" I feel like I'm missing key information to be a part of this conversation. The thought makes me pout and I stuff another bite of sweet sweet buttery goodness in my mouth in protest.
Tamamo simply shrugs at the question. "I do not know, nor do I care."
"Cold~. Narauko, I hate to be the one to tell you this but-" His words freeze in his throat as I glare at him. It's one thing for him to insult me, I mostly just find it funny. But Tamamo is more normal, she naturally finds insults insulting, and I don't want her and my Sensei to fight. "Well, never mind. What exactly is the relationship here?"
Tamamo looks my way at that, leaving me the centre of attention. Kind of makes it feel like I'm being tested, but I'm not really sure what the test would be exactly, so I just shrug.
"Lovers and friends."
Tamamo nods, so I guess that's a win, while Kamo-Sensei just starts snickering to himself again.
Then, as if stuck by a bolt of inspiration, Kamo-Sensei snaps his fingers in shock and turns to face me with evident excitement.
"Ah! If you are to be lovers with a Yōkai, does that mean that your answer to Tengen's question has changed?"
The question has me raising a brow, and for the sake of Tamamo's curiosity, I give a full answer, first to her and then to Kamo-Sensei.
"Tengen asked me if I wanted to be made immortal and I didn't really have an answer at the time," I say to her before turning to Kamo-Sensei. "And yeah, it has. This world is so vast, far more than I ever could have expected and even more than I am currently aware of I am sure. Besides, I don't want Tamamo to have to mourn me, so yeah, I'm gonna live forever."
Kamo-Sensei laughs at that answer, while Tamamo simply leans deeper against me, which in turn makes Kamo-Sensei mime himself vomiting.
"Bleh, I don't want to see that," he says to Tamamo's half-hearted glare before taking a bite of his crumpet and humming appreciatively. "What is this?"
"Krümpetsu," I answer. "It is just bread and butter, I can teach you the recipe if you want?"
"Nah." His reply is immediate, making my brow twitch. He's so annoying all the time. "So, if I am not mistaken, seven tails should indicate an Ultimate Kitsune, right? Narauko, you do know your lover is hag, right?"
"I am only seventy-nine," is Tamamo's instant, dry riposte, which actually succeeds in making Kamo-Sensei look at her in shock. Me as well, though certainly for a different reason.
"But you have seven tails? Shouldn't that make you like ten times that?" He asks.
At the same time, I ask my own question. "I thought you were seventy-eight?"
"That was half a year ago, Narauko," she begins with a wry smile, though she seems pleased that I remembered, answering me first before turning back to Kamo-Sensei. "I am incredibly talented."
Sensei actually gets a thoughtful expression at that. "Huh, so I guess this Golden Age isn't just limited to Sorcery then? That's interesting."
Ignoring him, I turn to Tamamo. "You should have told me, I'd have got you a birthday gift."
"A what?" She obviously understands the words, which can only mean that Kitsunes don't do birthdays.
"A gift to celebrate your life, commemorated every year on the day you were born."
Sensei snorts and mutters under his breath, "That will add up to a lot of gifts."
"He is right," Tamamo says with a brief glance Kamo-Sensei's way. "I know plenty of Kitsune who are hundreds, or even thousands of years old. That would be far too many gifts."
"Nah, it's only one every year," I immediately disagree. "And it's not like it has to be something big. Just think of it as an excuse to have a celebration or do something fun."
Tamamo smiles but doesn't respond, and Kamo-Sensei soon fills that silence.
"So," he begins, tone about as serious as it gets with him, though the curiosity is still apparent. "Why am I here?"
I raise a brow at him, genuinely confused. "How should I know? You're the one that knocked? Presumably it's about the competition? Are you going senile?"
"Wha-? No, dumbass, that's not- I mean why am I here," his hands gesture beneath him. "In this room. Seeing her."
Oh. Right, I get what he's getting at now, but I don't really have a great response, so I just go with the ol' classic of a shrug and some honesty.
"I care about both of you, though obviously you don't hold a candle to Tamamo~. So, as people I care about, I don't want to hide you from one another like a shitty drama, and would like it if you could get along, though obviously I won't try and force anything."
Kamo-Sensei shakes his head, amusement plain to see. "You really are absurd you know?"
"I don't think so. Not with this."
"Actually," Tamamo chimes in. "I would agree with your Sensei. You trust him far too much."
"He's not that bad."
"I actually totally am you know? Honestly," he shakes his head, exasperated. "Truly, truly absurd."
"Why are you already teaming up on me? This isn't what I meant when I said I wanted you to get along."
"You should not be so cute to tease then~," Tamamo responds, laughter in her eyes as she smiles up at me.
"What she said," Kamo-Sensei agrees. "Except for the cute part. I like my men a little more submissive you know~?"
Eh?
"Eh?"
"What?" Kamo-Sensei asks, brow raised. "Did you think I was celibate?"
It is only Tamamo's lack of a reaction that reminds me of something.
People were hella gay in ye olden times. Forgot about that.
"No, I just didn't know you liked men at all."
He looks at me with honest confusion which, combined with my probably awkward tone makes Tamamo laugh. Then, she leans up to place her mouth by my ear, a brief flare of Youki preventing Kamo-Sensei from eavesdropping.
"He will likely remain confused if you do not share your past experiences with him."
Ah, right.
Shrugging, I don't see any reason to hide anything, not from Kamo-Sensei. Certainly not since I seem to be telling everyone I'm close to these days anyway.
"I remember my previous life," I say, causing his eyes to immediately widen. "Homosexuality was, eeehh it was kinda complicated? At the time? There was a lot of divide about it and a lot of people treated the idea of same-sex relationships with a sense of shame."
Kamo-Sensei takes a moment to absorb the new information before his brows scrunch into confusion.
"Why?" He asks, so deeply baffled.
I can't help but laugh a little at that. "I wish I could tell you."
Kamo shakes his head and takes one final bite of his offered meal before placing the plate down.
"Well, whatever. You are definitely telling me more later," he begins, sending me a look that is a mix of a glare and a pout, "But we were already late before you invited me in, so now isn't really the time."
"Huh? Damnit Sensei, why are you like this?"
"Tehepero~."
"Stop doing that!"
Kamo-Sensei just laughs as I rush to my feet, waving a hand to clean the dishes with magic. Tamamo gets a quick kiss on the lips, which has her smiling while giggling at my hurry, and then I am dragging Kamo-Sensei to his feet and shoving him through the door.
"See ya later Tamamo! Love you!"
Her response is simply to continue giggling as I drag Kamo-Sensei out.
"My Kami, you two are adorable," his tone is as sarcastic as it is playful, "When can I be expecting little Narauko's to be running around~?"
"Don't even start," I glare, resigned to the paternal instincts I've been failing to ignore.
That just makes him laugh some more though.
"Yeah yeah, whatever you say~. Now come on, stop wasting time or we're going to be late."
"You said we were already late!?"
"Oh my gosh~," he gasps, faux-shocked with both hands on his cheeks. "Look what you have done, we are already late~."
"I hate you. So much."
"No you don't~."
I don't really have a response to that, so I just huff and keep walking, smiling despite my pretend annoyance.
"So," I begin after a short silence. "What are we doing exactly?"
"We are going to meet up with the rest of your fellow students and wait a bit before heading out for the competition. I am sure Tengen will give a rousing speech as well. That is about it for now."
"We're just going to sit around?" I ask, somewhat dubious of the prospect.
He chuckles at that, sending me a knowing smile.
"It's politics, brat," he says before pausing for a moment and then letting out a resigned sigh. "Fine, I'll explain it."
"Isn't that literally your only job as a teacher?" I ask again, but he ignores me.
"Whenever there is a big event, every detail is important. Especially when it involves nobles, and doubly so when it involves Sorcerers as well. In this case, it's mostly about pride. Think about it, us Sorcerers are going to be the ones participating in this event, as it is our event. But nobles will be nobles, and so they will be spectating. Can you see the problem that would arise there?"
"It's literally your job to tell me."
"It's about pride, like I said," he continues, ignoring me again. "Everyone has to arrive at the venue, obviously. But then comes the question of when everyone will arrive. At the same time? Implying that the general nobility and the Sorcerers are equals? Perish the thought. So should we Sorcerers arrive first? It is our event after all. But no, the nobles would see arriving second as implying that they are lessers to us Sorcerers, even if that is true." He mutters that last bit under his breath.
I don't react to it though. It's not like I don't know what kind of a person my Sensei is by this point.
"So what is left?" He continues, "Have the nobles arrive first and us second? What a wonderful idea Narauko, I would praise you if you weren't so horribly wrong."
"I didn't say anything."
"Sorcerers have our pride too you know? Especially the noble lot of us. Except that offended Sorcerers are far scarier than offended nobles. So if it seems as if there is no solution, then what can be done?"
"I'm sure you're about to tell me."
"Simple!" He exclaims, still not even looking in my direction. "The nobility will be having a tea party right about now, while we, the Sorcerers, will arrive only when the event is scheduled to start. This way, us Sorcerers get to have our pride soothed by the fact that the nobles are waiting on us, meanwhile the nobles get to keep their unearned ego by thinking of us as the evening entertainment after their tea party."
"I'm hearing a bias."
"And in the end, everyone wins and no one's pride is wounded. Now, are you feeling educated? Have I done my job? Are you going to praise me? Feel free~, I can take it~."
Honestly? Yes. His explanation was actually rather enlightening and I do find it interesting how someone came up with that compromise. I'm not going to say that though, obviously.
"Why are you the way that you are?" I say instead, getting a chuckle from him.
"Because I was born from a ritual that sacrificed one hundred and eight Sorcerers as fuel."
"Really!?" What's with this crazy lore drop!?
"No," he immediately answers. Zero hesitation. "I lied. Why would you believe that?"
I kick him in the shin. Asshole.
"Ow."
"Baka-Sensei," I say, and he looks at me as if I am dirt before the expression morphs into a superior look of ultimate smug.
"Tehepero~."
I kick his shin again.
"Ow, stop that."
"You stop that." I glare at him with narrowed eyes.
"I said it first," is his weak defence.
"Nuh uh," is my unbeatable offence.
Unable to form a counter to my wit, Kamo-Sensei doesn't respond for a while, leaving us walking in silence.
Eventually though, Kamo-Sensei does break the silence, his voice not as playful as before. More quiet. "Hey Narauko?"
"Hm?" I eye him, weary of an attack, but he doesn't even glance my way, simply staring straight ahead.
When he does answer, his voice is oddly solemn. Odd in the sense that it is so out of character as to immediately grab my full attention.
"Thank you."
"Hm?" I repeat, tilting my head his way, confused. "For what?"
Finally, his gaze does meet mine once more, and I feel as though a dozen answers flit through his eyes before he simply smiles and ruffles my hair, chuckling when I slap his hand away. We're basically the same height.
"Nothing~."
I eye him sceptically for a moment, but ultimately accept the answer.
I don't let my guard down though. You never know with this guy.
For some reason though, that only makes him laugh some more. A more gentle sound compared to before.
Weird.