Akira shuttled through the forest.
He was heading towards the spot where the explosion of wind happened.
"Mako!"
Akira finally found Mako after searching around, he saw Mako—disheveled—standing in the center of the blastpoint and looked down to her hand.
"Mako, are you okay? What's with the explosion just now?"
"Nothing special. Windy here put up a good fight before I put down here."
Mako pinched the bluish fang with her right index finger and thumb.
"So your energy and Windy clashed?"
"I guess so. We both attacked at the same time and it seems like our energy resonated with each other, hence the explosion of wind."
Mako tossed the fang up and it landed on her tight grip.
"What about you? Got Sparky?" Mako asked.
"Yeap." Akira too pinched the yellowish fang with his finger.
"But it almost attacked a civilian though, luckily I stopped it in time." Akira pouted.
"Really? Is the civilian okay?" Mako asked in surprised.
"Yeah, that weird guy is fine. He is really weird though, wore a wind coat in the middle of summer and dressed in black in the middle of the night. Guess there are all kinds of people in the world." Akira shrugged.
He wasn't really concerned about the encounter though because he had seen weirder people.
"I see. Well then, since we are done here, shall we go home? That last attack with Windy makes me hungry." Mako touched her stomach.
"Yeah, me too. I'm exhausted after taking out Sparky." Akira laughed.
Both of them then walked out of the forest and headed back to the shrine.
The next morning after putting down the wind and electric spirit foxes, Akira and Mako were in the usual place: the multipurpose hall on the left the main shrine.
The hall was mostly empty except for special occasions, like a wake service, or a marriage.
Together with them were Shinzo and Samuro and in front of Mako was the two fangs she and Akira got after defeating the foxes.
"This seems to be the remains of the spirit foxes. It's quite rare to find an untamed one and with this kind of power. It's possible for you to bind with them Mako, you can get your own shikigami." Shinzo said after he sized up the two fangs.
"Really?" Mako asked in joy. She had been searching for a suitable shikigami for a while now and this became a great chance for her to get her own.
"That's great Mako, but you'll have to be strong enough to tame your shikigami. Even after you've bound yourself together, it may not obey you if it deems you are unworthy. Judging from how volatile those two foxes are, you had to be careful or it will cause you more trouble hand help." Samura gave a kind reminder.
"There is two right? Why can't I get one? It can ease her burden to tame those two at once too" Akira ranted as he was listening to the conversation.
"The wind fox seemed to match Mako's abilities and since they come in pairs, it's best to not separate them into different owners." Shinzo explained to his pouting grandson.
"Yeah, don't forget your pet them the wrong way by grabbing their tail at first! They may not like you at all." Mako added.
"Fine, I guess I'll have to wait for a suitable candidate to show up! Well then, if there's nothing else here, I shall go back to watching my dramas. Bye bye."
Akiran stood up and left cheerfully, he wasn't bothered by not getting his own shikigami because he believed his time will come and a forced bond couldn't spark joy.
"So, are you ready to do this, Mako?" Shinzo looked at Mako with a serious gaze.
"Yes!"
"The process may be short but the responsibility and consequences that followed might be unpredictable, you must be well-prepared."
"I understand."
"Very well, let us begin then."
Shinzo stood up and allowed Samuro to prepare the ritual.
Samuro knelt down in front of Mako and took out a scroll from his sleeve.
A piece of scroll was laid open on the floor. As it rolled opened, all sorts of inscribed runes and writings were revealed—there was an empty circle in the middle.
After the scrolled was laid flat and proper, Mako took the two fangs and placed it in the center of the circle.
"Are you ready?" Samuro looked at his granddaughter with a stern look and asked with a serious tone.
"Yes, grandfather. Please." Mako bowed.
"Mako, I need you to close your eyes, clear your thoughts and heighten your spiritual energy. After I chanted the incantation, I need a drop of your blood on these fangs. Understand?"
"Yes." Mako then closed her eyes. Her spiritual energy started to burn stronger as she concentrated on her thoughts on the bonding process. A faint layer of orange aura enveloped her as she continued.
"As the sky and land converged, the world is born; as human and spirit bond, a tenacious link is forged."
"As humans, the bonding will present a stronger form; as spirit, the bonding will provide a better place."
"By the offering of blood, the spirit will be accepted into the human's life."
Mako then opened her eyes. She picked up the needle and poked her left index finger.
She hovered her finger over the fangs and a drop of blood fell down.
The runes and writings on the scroll the lighted up faintly. Glimmers of light particles floated out from the words and converged above the fangs, swirling over it like a rumbling cloud.
The blood on the fangs was then absorbed and the fangs glowed in their respective color for a moment before the light particles dived in.
"From this moment onwards, two or more souls will bond, for the better and for the worse."
"May the bonding of human and spirit be a harmonious one and may it be a bond that will transcend life and death."
"Mako, the ritual is now over. You can take the fangs and try to summon your shikigami." Samuro said.
Mako then reached her hand to the fangs and when she touched them, she seemed heard a fox bark in her ears. She felt connected to the pair of fangs, as if she could sense the spirits inside without even seeing them with her own eyes.
Her aura slowly dimmed down after she held the fangs tightly in her hand.
With a single thought, two foxes jumped out of thin air.
One jumped out with a spark; one jumped out with a pop of air.
The two small foxes of yellow and light blue looked and sniffed around.
They weren't the rogue spirits they were yesterday anymore. After bonding with Mako and became her shikigami, they had been reborn without any past memories.
The two foxes tumbled around as they tried to adapt to the new environment and when they saw Mako, they jumped over to her like baby foxes returning to their mother.
Both foxes landed on Mako's lap.
She looked down at the two of them, she was surprised by the new addition before she smiled at the duo.
Once a shikigami was bound to its master, like Samuro said, they would be bound for the rest of their life, unless the master severed the bond out of whatsoever reasons. Only the master had the rights to cut ties with the shikigami, but by doing so, the master's soul would be damaged and inflicted damage would depend on how strong the shikigami was.
Shikigami and its master shared a unique link, both could feel each other's presence regardless of distance but unable to share a single vision. Other than being a pet, a scout, or a caretaker of some sort, a shikigami could also power up the master's spiritual energy. Since a shikigami was basically a spirit form, it could grant a significant boost to the master's spiritual energy depending on the bond and resonance between both sides; the stronger the bond, the more powerful the boost.
"Welcome, Fu and Rai. Let's get along together." said Mako as she caressed the little foxes head.
The bluish fox was named Fu, meaning wind; the yellow fox was named Rai, meaning thunder.
Mako thought it would be appropriate and easy to call them by names.
The foxes enjoyed it too, they nuzzled at her palm with a soft purr.
"Remember Mako, now you have your own shikigami, your responsibility has just got bigger. You need to train them to aid you, take care of them as if they are really your pet. If you don't have the heart to take care of them, this bonding ritual will be wasted and they will be nothing but mere burden in the future."
Watching the scene, Shinzo who stood behind Samuro gave his reminder to Mako.
"I understand Lord Overseer."
"Oh and before I forgot, here. New assignment. It's up to you whether or not you want to bring Akira along." Samuro took out an envelope from his sleeve and passed it to Mako.
"I'll make sure he comes along!" Mako received the envelope and then carried the two foxes after she kept the fangs in her pocket, she stood up.
"Mako, the fangs aren't necessary for you to keep it now since you've bonded with them." Samura gave a piece of advice.
"It's fine grandfather. I'll make use of what's left."
"I'll be taking my leave now Lord Overseer, grandfather. Please excuse me."
Mako bowed before she left the room cheerfully.
Samuro saw her granddaughter off with a smile while Shinzo nodded in acknowledgement.
"Seems like Mako will grow stronger together with her shikigami. May she be of help to Akira when the time comes." Samuro said.
"That will be great." Shinzo answered with a meaningful look.
Meanwhile in the living room in the house, Akira was watching drama on his smartphone.
He was lying down on the floor comfortable and held his smartphone with one hand while the other supported his head. Biscuits and tea were on the tea table beside him.
He had been busy after he became the official exorcist of Tenjou Shrine, so all his 'fun' time was minimized. He'd stay up all night to watch dramas and play games on his phone, if he had no official assignments from the society, but it rarely happened since he accepted the position.
Since he had some free time on the second day after an assignment, he'd spent the whole afternoon in 'enjoying'.
"Damn it, that's why I delayed accepting the position! 'My Superhero Girlfriend' ended two days ago and I haven't watched the final episode! Now I have to avoid the internet for spoilers!"
"Curse you, evil spirits! Whosoever stop me from catching up my dramas and games next time, I'll blast them back to hell!"
Akira ranted left and right because of the lack of time for him to 'waste'.
"What?! How could the main character do that! She loved him so much and that's how he repay her? Damn, I have to watch the final episode! The tension is killing me."
Akira was on the second last episode of his drama and just when he was about to click on his phone for the next episode, the paper door slid open.
Pak!
"Aaah!"
Akira was frightened by the sudden intrusion, he quickly sat up and turned around, trying to make out the person who barged in uninvited but before he could, his sight was blocked by four furry paws.
"What is this?"
The foxes jumped in and landed on Akira's face, blocking his view. They then stepped on his face, pushed his head back down before jumping towards the tea table..
Bark!
"Eh? It's you two again?"
While lying down, Akira tilted his head backwards at the tea table and he saw two foxes licking themselves.
Both foxes caught his confused gaze but they reacted differently.
The bluish fox looked away in disdain; the yellow one growled at him with electric sparks around its body.
"I see you've met Fu and Rai?"
Mako's voice came in from outside the paper door.
Akira tilted his head back to the door and saw Mako with her hands around her waist.
"So let me guess, these two little foxes are you new shikigami which you bonded with from the fangs we retrieved?" Akira asked with a raised brow.
"Yes! I've named them Fu and Rai."
"Fu and Rai? Isn't that a little bit lame? Calling them based on their elements? They looked so small after reborn."
Rai, the yellow fox, heard the dissing, it immediately fired a spark of electric to Akira's head.
Spark!
"Ouch!"
It wasn't strong though, since the shikigami were basically newborn, their powers were limited, so that little spark did nothing but a little numbing effect.
"Guess Rai don't like you that much since you did beat it yesterday. Hmmm, based on what I know, after bonding, shikigami does not retain their previous memories, wonder why Rai reacted to your words?" Mako put her hand under her chin and feigned a thought on the matter.
"I bet it's naughty in nature!" Akira said.
Spark!
"Ouch! Stop it!"
Another spark was fired at Akira's hand.
"Hey Mako, tame your pets please. One of them is attacking an innocent person here!" Akira requested with a bitter smile.
"I'll try but since they bond between us is still fresh, I'm not sure they will completely listen to me!" Mako laughed out of delight.
"Yeah right, very funny." Akira squinted his eyes as he sat up.
"That's what grandfather told me, he said I have to train them properly before they could be of help. I guess for now, it's like having two baby foxes around." said Mako with a raised brow.
Akira's face twitched before the two foxes. He felt like his already shortened time in doing what he liked was just robbed away from him, but… all he could show was a bitter smile.
"Akira, you better not bully them when they are around I tell you, or I'll cut your streaming subscription."
Mako stepped into the living room, sat down opposite Akira and the two foxes jumped on her lap. The two foxes popped their heads over the tea table and gave a weird look to Akira.
"What? This is blackmail! I have a feeling these two doesn't like me that much!" Akira sat up and tried to complain.
"It's either their soul rejects you for your lousy petting yesterday or… you aren't as charming. I'll go with the second." Mako grinned.
"Hey, my bright smiles have the charms to shame a sunflower! That's what Mayuri told me before." Akira defended. "Speaking of which, I have to meet her in the next few days. Better message her first."
Akira gave up on watching his drama and found an excuse to leave the living room, more specifically, the two foxes.
"Don't run just yet, new assignment just came in!" Mako said while Akira was getting up.
"What? I thought we just finished one yesterday? Can we get a break?" Akira was shocked by how frequent the assignments came to him.
"Come, or I'll cut your streaming subscription and change the wifi password." Mako grinned.
"You evil woman! I'll remember this!" Akira stuck his tongue out at Mako before running away.
"Also, don't forget to submit your report of the previous assignment to your grandfather! He asked for yours!"
"Run away from trouble!" Akira's frivolous voice slowly fade off as he ran away.
Mako was left alone with her two new companions. She sighed, "Always trying to escape his work to play." She then looked down on the two foxes which was lying down on her lap.
"At least I still have you two!" Mako smiled.
Mako continued to play with her foxes while Akira headed to his room while pressing his room.
The day passed quickly after that and soon, night arrived as usual.
The night had stars all over the sky but no moon.
Despite it was after midnight, many places were still crowded with people, especially bars and hostess clubs as it was a Friday night.
Akira and Mako walked out from an izakaya, a place where people would hang out and have drinks and snacks after work.
"Thank you gramps! Thank you for your delicious yakitori! I'll be back next time!" Akira stood at the entrance, waving at the owner inside with bright smiles.
Mako stood beside him and bowed politely.
"No, no, no! I should thank you for helping my wife! There is only so much that I can do, so I hope that at least I can fill your stomach." The owner, a kind looking grandpa with no hair came out to send them off.
"No sweat gramps, expelling spirits is my job. It's great to finally see your wife free of her past shackles." Akira bowed and replied politely.
"It's getting late now, we should be going. Thank you for the supper, Sawabe-san." Mako said.
"I'm glad both of your liked it! Do drop by sometimes, I'll make your trip worthwhile!" replied the owner.
Akira and Mako then left.
This little meal was actually not in the plan for tonight. Earlier in the day, Mako received an assignment from her grandfather, stating that an elderly woman was troubled by spirits.
Mako, joined by Akira, arrived at Sawabe-san's place, found out that his wife was troubled by her old friend's spirit.
It wasn't anything serious, just a lone spirit trying to say goodbye to her dear friend but did not know how.
Akira was in charge of purifying the spirit while Mako delivered the message from the spirit. It was a touching scene rather than a scary one.
After the quick assignment, Sawabe-san's wife was told to stay in bed while Sawabe-san himself insisted to treat the two of them supper, in his own izakaya.
He purposely opened up shop and prepared some quick meal for them.
Both of them walked slowly along the street as they headed back to the shrine.
"Never thought you'd show today." Mako said.
"If I didn't show, how can I taste Sawabe-san's yakitori? I'm also here to stop you from eating all the ketchup!." Akira mocked.
"Ketchup is life!"
Mako chuckled. She did not have hope for Akira showing up for the assignment because of his playful attitude, but he did, which comforted her.
"Having supper is bad for my diet. I have to train harder tomorrow to burn of the calories!" Mako sighed.
"I'll join you too! I kinda ate a little too much there… Burp!"
"Ew! Mind your manners Akira!"
"Sorry!"
Both of them chatted happily as they passed through the crowded red light district to go back to the shrine.
Akira carried his Bladestaff on every assignment, this time was no exception either.
He strapped it on his back and whenever he walked into public eyes, his eye-catching staff and his cosplay-esque attire would turn heads.
Mako would too because of her cute looks but her strong presence kept the boys away.
Both of them walked through the crowded district without being bothered by the curious gaze.
It wasn't much of a scene either as long as they weren't causing any trouble to others.
The society in Japan was a rather weird one. People saw weird things everyday on the street, however, other than some whispers and curious gaze, almost nothing would be done to the deviants because Japanese people were taught from young to mind their own business and do not cause trouble for others.
Akira and Mako finally walked through the crowded place and slowly reached a quieter area. The people started to lessen and the environment got relatively darker, yet it was still within the red light district.
Mako was walking behind Akira. As they turned into a corner, Mako bumped into Akira's back.
"Ouch, what are you stopping all of a sudden?"
"Did you feel that?" Akira asked.
"Feel what? The skewers that I just ate?" Mako was baffled by Akira's sudden stop.
"No, there." Akira pointed forward.
"What? That alley?" Mako popped her head over Akira's shoulder for a better view.
Akira had a sharper sense compared to Mako, he was more sensitive towards spiritual energy, dark energy, malevolence and other kind of similar energy. It was part of his natural talent and sometimes, he could even 'see' the energy if they were dense enough.
Further away from Akira was an alleyway. In Mako's eyes, the alleyway looked normal other than the flicking street lamp at the entrance.
However in Akira's eyes, the alleyway reeked of malevolence.
"Something is there. Come on, let's go have a look." Akira then strode to the entrance of the alley while Mako hurried and followed him.
Akira popped his head over the wall to have a look, followed by Mako under him.
There was a man, pressing a woman against the wall and kissing her affectionately. The man was wearing a gray suit, seemingly a salaryman and the woman was wearing a beautiful one piece, probably one of the hostesses in the nearby club.The woman closed her eyes, seemingly enjoying the moment but something was off.
"What are you doing Akira! This isn't something we should peek at!" Mako whispered in panic and a flushed face.
"I know what you are referring to but this is not what you think." Akira said.
He then stepped up and stood at the entrance of the alley righteously.
"Hey, you there, can I talk to you for a moment?" Akira called out to the man loudly.
"AKIRA! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" Mako waved her hand and whispered as loud as she could. She tried to pull Akira back to the corner before the embarrassment exploded. She shifted her gaze between the bold Akira and the man and woman deeper in the alleyway.
"Ho, ho, so you've finally show yourself."
The man stopped kissing the woman but his hands were still pressing her hands on the wall. As he moved away from the woman's face, a better view was presented to Akira and Mako.
The woman looked pale and seemingly unconscious. She was helplessly pinned down by the man showing an evil smile.
"What is this?" Mako was shocked by the scene and she too stood up beside Akira.
"Who are you?" Akira asked.
With his evil smile, the man let go of the woman and allowed her to fell on the ground. He then turned to Akira with a sinister look in his eyes.
"What have you done to her? Mako asked with a slightly angry tone.
"She? I guess she is dead? I don't know, she's just food to me." The man's voice started to turn heavier, and so did his breath. Malevolence started to grow from his body.
"Who are you?" Akira asked again, with calm tone, as if he wasn't bothered by the unconscious woman.
"Me? I am here to kill you, Akira!"