In the afternoon, after assigning the task of building the shrine to the Hyakka mbers, Kawaki strolled toward the gate of Yoshiwara.
Watching Kawaki's departing figure from a high place, Kyu-chan gently curled her lips into a smile.
At the House of the Onmyoji Ketsuno Clan.
Kawaki was sitting under the eaves of the main house, listening in boredom to a seasoned siscon behind him who was explaining—or rather, justifying—sothing.
"...Godly possession, to be honest, even as the number one Onmyoji in the world, I don't know much about it," Seii spoke slowly. "There's only a brief ntion of it in the records of my ancestors. But I have to say, Lady Kyu is as elusive as ever... using such a reckless ability..."
"I just want to know if there's a way to make her go back quietly," Kawaki waved his hand dismissively, not even turning around. "It's so annoying; the whole of Yoshiwara is filled with her fox stench. If this keeps up, there will be fewer and fewer custors."
Seii chuckled softly, shaking his head, not directly addressing Kawaki's complaint, and continued explaining, "According to the records passed down from the Ketsuno and Miruno clans' ancestors, godly possession is a very... um... significant event, only possible in exceptional circumstances.
For example, when a god wants to give a special divine revelation to their followers or when they wish to impose punishnt. As for what Lady Kyu said about having a reason to fulfil a wish, that's the first ti I've heard of it. But it's not impossible. After all, humans are not gods; understandably, they don't know the affairs of gods.
Moreover, what Lady Kyu said about needing human consent to be possessed is recorded. Even if a god wants to have soone, if the person refuses, the god cannot complete the possession."
"Oh, I see..."
"So, what exactly is Lady Kyu's wish?" Seii asked.
"I don't know," Kawaki shrugged as he stood up. "That woman said she wanted her own shrine, but... it probably isn't that simple."
Seii laughed softly, teasing, "It seems you know Lady Kyu quite well..."
"No, won aren't that easy to figure out for n," Kawaki glanced back at Seii, offering an excellent warning. "If you underestimate won, you'll suffer for it, siscon."
"Who are you calling a siscon?!" Seii instantly retorted, then pointed to the television inside the house. "By the way, I've told you everything you wanted to know. It's about ti you dealt with the trouble at Chris's place!"
Seii grits his teeth, he continued, "Every ti, during Chris's program, I keep spotting Douman hiding in the background on the screen! It's so annoying! I really don't want to keep recording that guy too!"
"Oh!" Kawaki suddenly thought of sothing, snapping his fingers. "So that stalker is now too busy stalking your sister to bother with you, and you're feeling lonely!"
"Who's lonely?!" Seii's face twitched with veins popping out as he retorted furiously.
"Hahaha..." Douman's voice suddenly echoed from the wall, "Seii! I'm sorry about that! But now Chris and I are getting along so well! I'm sorry I don't have ti to play with you! Just wait, Seii! After Chris and I remarry, I'll make it up to you! Bye-bye!"
Watching Douman jump off the wall and disappear, Seii yelled after him, "You're just a stalker! Don't think I'll ever agree to that! I won't let Chris die on the sa crooked tree again! Give it up!"
"Exactly!" Gintoki, suddenly appearing beside Seii, naturally shouted towards the wall. "We'll protect Ketsuno Ana's butt!"
"No, that's not your job to protect!" Seii imdiately retorted. "And when did you get here?"
"It's been a while, big brother," Gintoki greeted with a wave.
"Who are you calling big brother? Don't get too familiar with ! And why did you just casually walk into soone else's house?!"
Gintoki shrugged with a soft hum and spread his hands, pretending to be helpless. "Well, sooner or later, I'll be moving in here anyway. There's no need to knock when entering my future ho. You're really being too distant, big brother~"
"Rest assured, without Chris's agreent, I would never agree to anything between you and Chris."
"Don't be so touched, big brother. I just happened to be passing by and wanted to check on you."
"Who's touched?!"
Just as Gintoki was about to say sothing else, he caught sight of Kawaki's retreating figure out of the corner of his eye. He picked his nose with his pinky finger, his eyes dull and uninterested as he muttered, "What's that idiot doing here?"
"Probably sothing related to a woman..."
"Huh?!" Gintoki exclaid in shock, "Is that idiot also after Ketsuno Ana's butt?!"
"Shut up!!" Seii pulled out a summoning talisman, "Co out, Kuzunoha! Throw this rascal out for !"
Boom!!
In a cloud of smoke, Kuzunoha's first words were, "Seii-sama! I sll Kawaki-sama! Did he co here?!"
Seii fell silent montarily before muttering, "Honestly, lately, I'm getting increasingly confused about who your master really is..."
At that mont, Kuzunoha noticed Kawaki's figure at the gate, and like a predator spotting prey, she imdiately charged straight at him.
"Kawaki-sama! Wait for ~ Today's a perfect day for doing all sorts of things with a shikigami~ Co on, let's head to our love nest..."
Kawaki's only response was a simple roundhouse kick.
Watching Kuzunoha's body arc perfectly in the air and land face-first in front of him with a smack, Seii sighed and shook his head.
"I really should consider getting a different personal shikigami..."
No sooner had Seii finished speaking than Douman flew over the wall in a similar arc, landing in the sa position right before him.
"Maybe Chris should also get a different one..." Seii muttered.
Evening Ti.
Click.
As Kawaki opened the door to his bedroom, he saw Tsukuyo—or rather, Kyu-chan—lying in his futon.
"You're really back late~" Kyu-chan extended a delicate arm from under the covers, beckoning Kawaki with a finger. "Co on, let's sleep together~ just like old tis~."
"Huh? Really?" Kawaki coldly glanced at Kyu-chan. "Just like before?"
"Of course~"
"Then I won't hold back," Kawaki took two steps forward, rolling Kyu-chan up in the futon, and prepared to hurl her out the window with all his strength.
"It's not even my body, so I don't really care~" Kyu-chan casually reminded him.
"You..." Kawaki gritted his teeth in frustration, and his movents halted.
Kawaki sat cross-legged on the floor, playing a video ga while Kyu-chan lounged behind him in just a white T-shirt and denim shorts.
"If there are such convenient clothes in this world, why bother with those troubleso ones? They're not only good-looking but also comfortable to move in." Kyu-chan raised her arms, puzzled. "I really don't understand humans."
"It has nothing to do with humans. It's just the fault of a gorilla," Kawaki replied without looking back.
Kyu-chan knelt behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck and deeply inhaling Kawaki's scent. "Little Kawaki's scent is still so comforting~ It's a unique scent on this planet that puts at ease~"
"Enough already," Kawaki reminded her casually. "And... what's your real wish? I'm not stupid enough to believe it's about building a shrine."
"Little Kawaki is still as smart as ever~" Kyu-chan poked his cheek playfully with her index finger. "But I don't rember ever saying that my wish was to have a shrine. I just said it was troubling not to have one."
Hearing this, Kawaki's face instantly darkened, and the controller in his hand began to crack.
"Do you really want to know my true wish that badly?" Kyu-chan rested her chin on Kawaki's shoulder, her face full of mischief as she whispered, "What if I wished for sothing very enjoyable with you? Would you fulfill that wish too?"
"Sure," Kawaki replied indifferently, giving Kyu-chan a sidelong glance. "Don't worry, I'll train you to be an obedient pig."
"But I'm a fox~"
"Don't worry, I'll make you believe deep down that you're just a pig."
"You're as clueless as ever, aren't you~" Kyu-chan huffed and let go of his neck. "You call for all sweetly when you need , but when you don't, you're as cold as ice."
"Hey, I've never needed you. Don't say unnecessary things."
"Such heartless words, breaking my heart~"
"Great. Now go die."
"You jerk!!" Kyu-chan couldn't take it anymore and raised her fist to hit Kawaki.
But at the last mont, she stopped.
"Hey, let ask one last question." Kyu-chan lowered her head, her expression unreadable.
"Is this your wish?"
"Answer seriously," Kyu-chan continued. "At that last mont, you did it on purpose, didn't you? So that I could let go of everything and ascend to Takamagahara..."
"No," Kawaki replied casually. "I just didn't rember... or maybe I forgot."
"Heh," Kyu-chan let out a bitter laugh, keeping her head down. "You know, I realized it right after I got to Takamagahara, but... I couldn't co back. My body, my soul... everything of mine was bound there. Did you think that was the ending I wanted?"
Kawaki didn't respond. Instead, he turned his head to look out the window at the moon hanging high in the night sky, and, as if talking to himself, he softly said, "No one knows what the best ending is for everyone. No matter what the outco, it's impossible to satisfy everyone. There will always be those who are unhappy, who suffer, who grieve... A perfect ending that pleases everyone doesn't exist. You gain so, you lose so. But people who cower and try to avoid the ending... I can't stand them..."
Hearing Kawaki's words, Kyu-chan raised her hand, scoffing, "You're such a boring person. I'm going back."
When she finished speaking, Kyu-chan—no, Tsukuyo—closed her eyes and collapsed into Kawaki's arms.
"Goodbye," Kawaki murmured as he looked down at the still-sleeping Tsukuyo. "So, Tsukki, the reason dreams are beautiful is simply because they're dreams. It's ti to wake up."
At that mont, Tsukuyo let out a soft murmur and slowly opened her eyes.
"Good morning."
Seeing Kawaki's smiling face above her, sothing stirred deep within Tsukuyo...
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