Chapter 65
Kaya relaxed in the warm water, eyes closed, resting her back against the edge of the tub, the foam from washed-out shampoo still clinging to her shoulders. There had been some sort of bug in the grass, because after coming home, her skin had itched like crazy. After trying unsuccessfully to scratch it away all afternoon, taking a bath seemed to relieve it. Lying down in a field and staring up at the sky with the man of your dreams (she still couldn’t believe he’d let her put her arm across him like that) never took those stupid bugs into account in fiction…
“Kaya! Kaya!” Moh Shuvuu darted through the door. “Kaya, have you heard!?”
Kaya pushed herself up, wringing out her hair. “Hey, calm down. What is it?”
“There’s this news sweeping through the Dark Realm - well, there’s two takes on it really…but it all comes down to Raidou the Fourteenth almost getting his life and title taken!”
Kaya stared at her demon friend. “…What did you say?”
“Ryuu almost died today!”
“But he didn’t? But he’s all right?”
“Yep. And here’s where the news splits. See, some demons and Summoners think he survived because the Elder Spirit messed up and Ryuu shouldn’t have been there in the first place. But others think it’s because he or Gouto - I’ve heard both versions - didn’t want him to die. I asked everyone around, just like a detective!”
“Did you really do all that work yourself?” Kaya asked.
“Uh, well…” Moh Shuvuu folded her hands and looked down. “I got Miss Asakura to help me, and she got Mr. Narumi…but it’s what I’ve been doing for a few hours.”
“I should go to the agency and see him…” Kaya said, reaching for the drain plug.
“He’s not there,” said Moh Shuvuu. “He’s at the Nameless Shrine, recovering.”
“Recovering? You mean he’s hurt after all?”
“Uh-huh. He almost had all his life energy sucked right out of him, you know. But we can still go see him, that’s why I came to you. C’mon, get dressed and let’s get going!”
“Ryuu…what did he do?” Kaya said, mostly to herself, as she toweled dry and got dressed.
“I dunno. But whatever he did, it got that Elder Spirit mad at him…”
“Gouto will be there. He’ll know.”
She walked out of the bathroom and made her way to the entrance, greeting the servants along the way. She may have been in a hurry, but that was no reason to make the servants worry about her. Just as she was walking down the steps, however, the servant sweeping the rug on the landing looked at her with wide, panicked eyes.
“Miss Kaya…?” the servant said. “Wh…what are you doing here!? How can you abandon Mr. Raidou? He needs you!”
“Wha…? I’m…I was just going to see him…” said Kaya, perplexed.
“You said yourself you’d never leave his side! He’s not strong enough yet, you need to be there! Without you, he’ll…!”
“Are…are you having another vision?”
“Miss Kaya! You don’t have time to be talking to me, hurry!”
“I…I will!” said Kaya, rushing to the front door.
“Looks like you’ll be playing nurse,” said Moh Shuvuu as they hurried down the path to Tsukudo-Cho. When had it been so long? “That’s so romantic!”
“Moh Shuvuu…please…we don’t have time for that…”
Finally, Kamishiro-zaka. And now, even that seemed long. What was usually a short walk to Fujiko Parlor now seemed to be an endless run.
And once that halfway point was passed, it seemed equally-slow going to the streetcar station. Kaya felt like she was in one of those dreams where she was running but not going anywhere. It felt like her feet were made of lead. She felt so slow, so helpless.
And then she was there, boarding the car.
The streetcar moved, clack after endless clack along the tracks without seeming to move at all.
“You know Raidou the Fourteenth personally?” asked the woman she was sitting next to suddenly.
Kaya nodded.
“I see. Well, maybe you can tell me. I’m a Kuzunoha Summoner, myself, and I’ve heard from my sister-in-law that her son heard from one of the spirits at the clan hall that the Elder Spirit made a mistake. But my brother says his demon said he heard from…”
Kaya’s attention wandered to the rest of the passengers. Every so often, she caught a “Fourteenth” in the conversations around her. How many of the people going to Shinoda were going there to see Raidou?
“Which is it?” asked the woman beside her.
“Hmm? Oh…I think the Elder Spirit made a mistake. Ry…um, Raidou is so duty-bound.”
“Oh. …Okay.”
“Um…”
“So how long have you been a Summoner, dear? Are you a Kuzunoha?”
“I’m not. A Summoner, I mean. Moh Shuvuu is just my friend. I don’t think I’m a Kuzunoha…how do you know if you’re one or not?”
“Well, you just go to the clan hall and ask to see the records. I was so surprised when I went there. See, my maiden name is Hoshikawa, and my mother’s maiden name is…”
The litany went on. Kaya was sorry she’d asked.
She’d only wanted to kill time by having a conversation, but this woman was so chatty. She listened in on some of the demons instead, watching an Ukobach hit on Moh Shuvuu, but get bored and walk off to try and sweet talk a Lamia - only to get tail-whipped before his Summoner noticed and called him over.
“Then he was married to Kubo - oh, and her father earned Kyouji the Fifth, by the way…” the woman went on. Kaya was glad to see the thick forest coming into view. The woman continued to gab about the exploits of her ancestor Kyouji the Fifth, the genealogy seemingly forgotten.
The streetcar stopped and Kaya got off, only to have the woman follow her and keep talking as they moved with the group of ten or so other Summoners towards the Nameless Shrine.
“Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes. So Kyouji the Fifth’s mother was…”
Kaya wished she could walk ahead without being rude. The Ukobach from before used Ignite to keep her strong. His Summoner, a middle-aged man, gave her a sympathetic smile.
The woman finished at last. Kaya didn’t hear which original Kuzunoha she traced to. “…Whew! Pretty impressive, isn’t it, dear?”
“Y…yeah…”
“So how do you know Raidou, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Um…we’re…uh…”
“Oh, are you his girlfriend? How precious! Well, don’t let little old me stop you, you should be by his side! Go on, go on ahead! Don’t let anyone stop you from getting in the way of your true love’s sickbed!”
“Um…thank you!” Kaya said quickly, giving her a quick bow before rushing off, ahead of everyone else. She could feel the heat on her face, she knew she must be as red as her uniform.
She broke through the trees, and tore down the walkway, only to collide with a taller person, knocking them both over.
Narumi picked himself up and offered his hand. “Just heard, huh?” he asked, his usual brightness subdued. “He’s alive, but…barely. Pulse is weak, breath is shallow…I’d stay with him but I can’t leave the office alone for too long. Don’t stay here too late, yourself, y’hear?”
Before she could respond, he’d walked off, his head down.
“Everything will be all right,” said Moh Shuvuu. “He’ll get better as long as there’s someone around to take care of him. Let’s go see him.”
“I hope you’re right,” Kaya said, walking slowly into the shrine.
“Moh Shuvuu…where is he?”
“I’ll go take a look!” said Moh Shuvuu, taking off. A few minutes later, she came back. “Okay, follow me!”
Kaya began to smell soup as Moh Shuvuu led her onwards. Soon enough, they came to a closed door. A kneeling figure stood at seeing her silhouette through the thin paper door, and came to open it for her.
“Hi, Kaya,” said Miyu. “Mas…I mean, Gouto was sure you’d show up sooner. Come on in…”
Raidou was laid out on a stack of two futons, a light blanket draped over him, with some pillows, folded blankets, and other items piled up beneath him from the waist-up so his body rested at an incline, almost sitting up. His clothes were folded up near the wall on that side, his hat resting on top of the pile.
“The Herald of Yatagarasu left for the clan hall,” said Gouto, sitting tensely at the bedside. “To deliver her judgment on the matter.”
“Lilith helped her read our minds to see if we could’ve revived him,” said Miyu. “But…I’m worried. She was frowning…”
“Yeah,” said Gouto. “I sensed some real sadness…I think I might’ve been wrong…we’ve been saying goodbye.” The cat hung his head. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Goodbye…” Kaya repeated, kneeling beside Raidou.
“Yet she fed him,” Siegfried said. “And placed a bedpan beneath him, and neatly folded his clothing. Why go to such trouble if the verdict is unfavorable? Mayhap you misjudged the Herald’s frown?”
“I hope so, Siegfried,” said Gouto.
Kaya reached out to touch Raidou’s face. His skin was cold and clammy.
A shivering sob passed through her body, and Kaya buried her face against Raidou’s chest, letting her tears dampen the blanket covering him. How could this be happening? He had always seemed so invincible…and it wasn’t like with the Irregular Incubi at school. Then, he had been somewhere else, and she didn’t know how he was doing. There had been that little safety net of separation in that case. But now, he was right in front of her, and her tears were warmer than his skin.
“Kaya…” said Miyu. “It’s all right. I…we can help each other…and Louis can help you. He’s really great at that kind of thing…”
“You’re talking like he’s already dead…” said Gouto.
The Summoners that had been behind Kaya found their way to the room at that point. They stayed for a few minutes, talking to each other and asking questions of Gouto, Siegfried, and Miyu, and then they left. The air had been one of mixed contempt and pity - everyone seemed to take a different stance, and nobody seemed interested in sticking around to learn the truth.
A few minutes after they had left, the Herald of Yatagarasu returned. Kaya immediately sensed she was uneasy.
“Greetings, Miss Daidouji…” said the Herald. “It makes me glad to see you here.”
“Uh…same to you. Wha…what’s the verdict?”
“I told them…” the Herald sighed. “I told them he could have been resuscitated. The Elder Spirit sends his deepest apologies, and wishes Raidou the Fourteenth a swift recovery.”
“Yeah!” Gouto cheered. “I told him!”
“Wait a minute!” said Moh Shuvuu. “You said you told them! Does that mean what you found was different?”
The Herald let out a short little gasp - Moh Shuvuu had hit her mark. Then, she lowered her head, a tear sliding from under her hood.
“I…I…”
“Herald?” Gouto said, taking a step forward.
“Yes…” she half-whispered, her voice wet with a sob. “It…was a falsehood.”
“What?” Gouto sat down. Kaya reached for Raidou’s hand, grasping it and pulling it out from under the blanket, as if it might save him from the truth that he should be dead.
“From your perspective, Gouto-douji, there was sufficient time. But…when compared to the information obtained from Summoner Nakamura and Siegfried, there was not… “ Tears began to flow freely from the shadows concealing her eyes. “But I couldn’t…I should not be doing this…but I…I apologize…you should not behold me in such a state…”
“Herald…” Gouto breathed. “You lied to save him…Thank you! Thank you, over a thousand lifetimes, thank you!” The cat was suddenly at her feet, bowing as well as a cat could bow.
“Gouto-douji, you do not understand…” the Herald said. “Should my falsehood be discovered…all three of us - myself, yourself, and Raidou the Fourteenth - will face dire consequences…”
“Then you have my word, Herald,” said Gouto, affectionately nudging her leg. “My lips are sealed. Everyone, what do you say?”
“I’m in on it, too,” said Kaya. “I don’t want him to die…”
“I’ve lost someone already,” said Miyu. “I’m not losing someone else if I can help it.”
“My task as a demon is to safeguard my Summoner’s life,” said Siegfried. “As my Summoner yet lives, my fealty to him remains.”
Moh Shuvuu mimed pulling a zipper across her mouth. “Hey, if Raidou dies, all my work to be a good detective will be for nothing! What’s the point if Kaya’s not going to live with one?”
“Moh Shuvuu!” Kaya snapped, blushing.
The Herald of Yatagarasu raised her hand to her mouth to hide her smile. “I thank you all. I shall work to ensure his expedient recovery. Though he is unable to speak right now, I believe he would be proud to see he has such dedicated allies.”
“Actually…” said Kaya, remembering what her servant said. “Isn’t it inconvenient to stay here with him?”
“My superiors might begin to suspect me…what do you suggest, Miss Daidouji?”
“How about I take care of him?”
“You wish to see to his needs in my stead? I thank you, that is a kind offer…”
“Just tell me what I need to do.”
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“Kaya! Kaya!” Moh Shuvuu darted through the door. “Kaya, have you heard!?”
Kaya pushed herself up, wringing out her hair. “Hey, calm down. What is it?”
“There’s this news sweeping through the Dark Realm - well, there’s two takes on it really…but it all comes down to Raidou the Fourteenth almost getting his life and title taken!”
Kaya stared at her demon friend. “…What did you say?”
“Ryuu almost died today!”
“But he didn’t? But he’s all right?”
“Yep. And here’s where the news splits. See, some demons and Summoners think he survived because the Elder Spirit messed up and Ryuu shouldn’t have been there in the first place. But others think it’s because he or Gouto - I’ve heard both versions - didn’t want him to die. I asked everyone around, just like a detective!”
“Did you really do all that work yourself?” Kaya asked.
“Uh, well…” Moh Shuvuu folded her hands and looked down. “I got Miss Asakura to help me, and she got Mr. Narumi…but it’s what I’ve been doing for a few hours.”
“I should go to the agency and see him…” Kaya said, reaching for the drain plug.
“He’s not there,” said Moh Shuvuu. “He’s at the Nameless Shrine, recovering.”
“Recovering? You mean he’s hurt after all?”
“Uh-huh. He almost had all his life energy sucked right out of him, you know. But we can still go see him, that’s why I came to you. C’mon, get dressed and let’s get going!”
“Ryuu…what did he do?” Kaya said, mostly to herself, as she toweled dry and got dressed.
“I dunno. But whatever he did, it got that Elder Spirit mad at him…”
“Gouto will be there. He’ll know.”
She walked out of the bathroom and made her way to the entrance, greeting the servants along the way. She may have been in a hurry, but that was no reason to make the servants worry about her. Just as she was walking down the steps, however, the servant sweeping the rug on the landing looked at her with wide, panicked eyes.
“Miss Kaya…?” the servant said. “Wh…what are you doing here!? How can you abandon Mr. Raidou? He needs you!”
“Wha…? I’m…I was just going to see him…” said Kaya, perplexed.
“You said yourself you’d never leave his side! He’s not strong enough yet, you need to be there! Without you, he’ll…!”
“Are…are you having another vision?”
“Miss Kaya! You don’t have time to be talking to me, hurry!”
“I…I will!” said Kaya, rushing to the front door.
“Looks like you’ll be playing nurse,” said Moh Shuvuu as they hurried down the path to Tsukudo-Cho. When had it been so long? “That’s so romantic!”
“Moh Shuvuu…please…we don’t have time for that…”
Finally, Kamishiro-zaka. And now, even that seemed long. What was usually a short walk to Fujiko Parlor now seemed to be an endless run.
And once that halfway point was passed, it seemed equally-slow going to the streetcar station. Kaya felt like she was in one of those dreams where she was running but not going anywhere. It felt like her feet were made of lead. She felt so slow, so helpless.
And then she was there, boarding the car.
The streetcar moved, clack after endless clack along the tracks without seeming to move at all.
“You know Raidou the Fourteenth personally?” asked the woman she was sitting next to suddenly.
Kaya nodded.
“I see. Well, maybe you can tell me. I’m a Kuzunoha Summoner, myself, and I’ve heard from my sister-in-law that her son heard from one of the spirits at the clan hall that the Elder Spirit made a mistake. But my brother says his demon said he heard from…”
Kaya’s attention wandered to the rest of the passengers. Every so often, she caught a “Fourteenth” in the conversations around her. How many of the people going to Shinoda were going there to see Raidou?
“Which is it?” asked the woman beside her.
“Hmm? Oh…I think the Elder Spirit made a mistake. Ry…um, Raidou is so duty-bound.”
“Oh. …Okay.”
“Um…”
“So how long have you been a Summoner, dear? Are you a Kuzunoha?”
“I’m not. A Summoner, I mean. Moh Shuvuu is just my friend. I don’t think I’m a Kuzunoha…how do you know if you’re one or not?”
“Well, you just go to the clan hall and ask to see the records. I was so surprised when I went there. See, my maiden name is Hoshikawa, and my mother’s maiden name is…”
The litany went on. Kaya was sorry she’d asked.
She’d only wanted to kill time by having a conversation, but this woman was so chatty. She listened in on some of the demons instead, watching an Ukobach hit on Moh Shuvuu, but get bored and walk off to try and sweet talk a Lamia - only to get tail-whipped before his Summoner noticed and called him over.
“Then he was married to Kubo - oh, and her father earned Kyouji the Fifth, by the way…” the woman went on. Kaya was glad to see the thick forest coming into view. The woman continued to gab about the exploits of her ancestor Kyouji the Fifth, the genealogy seemingly forgotten.
The streetcar stopped and Kaya got off, only to have the woman follow her and keep talking as they moved with the group of ten or so other Summoners towards the Nameless Shrine.
“Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes. So Kyouji the Fifth’s mother was…”
Kaya wished she could walk ahead without being rude. The Ukobach from before used Ignite to keep her strong. His Summoner, a middle-aged man, gave her a sympathetic smile.
The woman finished at last. Kaya didn’t hear which original Kuzunoha she traced to. “…Whew! Pretty impressive, isn’t it, dear?”
“Y…yeah…”
“So how do you know Raidou, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Um…we’re…uh…”
“Oh, are you his girlfriend? How precious! Well, don’t let little old me stop you, you should be by his side! Go on, go on ahead! Don’t let anyone stop you from getting in the way of your true love’s sickbed!”
“Um…thank you!” Kaya said quickly, giving her a quick bow before rushing off, ahead of everyone else. She could feel the heat on her face, she knew she must be as red as her uniform.
She broke through the trees, and tore down the walkway, only to collide with a taller person, knocking them both over.
Narumi picked himself up and offered his hand. “Just heard, huh?” he asked, his usual brightness subdued. “He’s alive, but…barely. Pulse is weak, breath is shallow…I’d stay with him but I can’t leave the office alone for too long. Don’t stay here too late, yourself, y’hear?”
Before she could respond, he’d walked off, his head down.
“Everything will be all right,” said Moh Shuvuu. “He’ll get better as long as there’s someone around to take care of him. Let’s go see him.”
“I hope you’re right,” Kaya said, walking slowly into the shrine.
“Moh Shuvuu…where is he?”
“I’ll go take a look!” said Moh Shuvuu, taking off. A few minutes later, she came back. “Okay, follow me!”
Kaya began to smell soup as Moh Shuvuu led her onwards. Soon enough, they came to a closed door. A kneeling figure stood at seeing her silhouette through the thin paper door, and came to open it for her.
“Hi, Kaya,” said Miyu. “Mas…I mean, Gouto was sure you’d show up sooner. Come on in…”
Raidou was laid out on a stack of two futons, a light blanket draped over him, with some pillows, folded blankets, and other items piled up beneath him from the waist-up so his body rested at an incline, almost sitting up. His clothes were folded up near the wall on that side, his hat resting on top of the pile.
“The Herald of Yatagarasu left for the clan hall,” said Gouto, sitting tensely at the bedside. “To deliver her judgment on the matter.”
“Lilith helped her read our minds to see if we could’ve revived him,” said Miyu. “But…I’m worried. She was frowning…”
“Yeah,” said Gouto. “I sensed some real sadness…I think I might’ve been wrong…we’ve been saying goodbye.” The cat hung his head. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Goodbye…” Kaya repeated, kneeling beside Raidou.
“Yet she fed him,” Siegfried said. “And placed a bedpan beneath him, and neatly folded his clothing. Why go to such trouble if the verdict is unfavorable? Mayhap you misjudged the Herald’s frown?”
“I hope so, Siegfried,” said Gouto.
Kaya reached out to touch Raidou’s face. His skin was cold and clammy.
A shivering sob passed through her body, and Kaya buried her face against Raidou’s chest, letting her tears dampen the blanket covering him. How could this be happening? He had always seemed so invincible…and it wasn’t like with the Irregular Incubi at school. Then, he had been somewhere else, and she didn’t know how he was doing. There had been that little safety net of separation in that case. But now, he was right in front of her, and her tears were warmer than his skin.
“Kaya…” said Miyu. “It’s all right. I…we can help each other…and Louis can help you. He’s really great at that kind of thing…”
“You’re talking like he’s already dead…” said Gouto.
The Summoners that had been behind Kaya found their way to the room at that point. They stayed for a few minutes, talking to each other and asking questions of Gouto, Siegfried, and Miyu, and then they left. The air had been one of mixed contempt and pity - everyone seemed to take a different stance, and nobody seemed interested in sticking around to learn the truth.
A few minutes after they had left, the Herald of Yatagarasu returned. Kaya immediately sensed she was uneasy.
“Greetings, Miss Daidouji…” said the Herald. “It makes me glad to see you here.”
“Uh…same to you. Wha…what’s the verdict?”
“I told them…” the Herald sighed. “I told them he could have been resuscitated. The Elder Spirit sends his deepest apologies, and wishes Raidou the Fourteenth a swift recovery.”
“Yeah!” Gouto cheered. “I told him!”
“Wait a minute!” said Moh Shuvuu. “You said you told them! Does that mean what you found was different?”
The Herald let out a short little gasp - Moh Shuvuu had hit her mark. Then, she lowered her head, a tear sliding from under her hood.
“I…I…”
“Herald?” Gouto said, taking a step forward.
“Yes…” she half-whispered, her voice wet with a sob. “It…was a falsehood.”
“What?” Gouto sat down. Kaya reached for Raidou’s hand, grasping it and pulling it out from under the blanket, as if it might save him from the truth that he should be dead.
“From your perspective, Gouto-douji, there was sufficient time. But…when compared to the information obtained from Summoner Nakamura and Siegfried, there was not… “ Tears began to flow freely from the shadows concealing her eyes. “But I couldn’t…I should not be doing this…but I…I apologize…you should not behold me in such a state…”
“Herald…” Gouto breathed. “You lied to save him…Thank you! Thank you, over a thousand lifetimes, thank you!” The cat was suddenly at her feet, bowing as well as a cat could bow.
“Gouto-douji, you do not understand…” the Herald said. “Should my falsehood be discovered…all three of us - myself, yourself, and Raidou the Fourteenth - will face dire consequences…”
“Then you have my word, Herald,” said Gouto, affectionately nudging her leg. “My lips are sealed. Everyone, what do you say?”
“I’m in on it, too,” said Kaya. “I don’t want him to die…”
“I’ve lost someone already,” said Miyu. “I’m not losing someone else if I can help it.”
“My task as a demon is to safeguard my Summoner’s life,” said Siegfried. “As my Summoner yet lives, my fealty to him remains.”
Moh Shuvuu mimed pulling a zipper across her mouth. “Hey, if Raidou dies, all my work to be a good detective will be for nothing! What’s the point if Kaya’s not going to live with one?”
“Moh Shuvuu!” Kaya snapped, blushing.
The Herald of Yatagarasu raised her hand to her mouth to hide her smile. “I thank you all. I shall work to ensure his expedient recovery. Though he is unable to speak right now, I believe he would be proud to see he has such dedicated allies.”
“Actually…” said Kaya, remembering what her servant said. “Isn’t it inconvenient to stay here with him?”
“My superiors might begin to suspect me…what do you suggest, Miss Daidouji?”
“How about I take care of him?”
“You wish to see to his needs in my stead? I thank you, that is a kind offer…”
“Just tell me what I need to do.”
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