Mikage
“It was one-way irritation, honey.” Sawako teased her daughter who just rolled her eyes from her mother’s smirking lips.
“Can it be inherited as well?” Mikage wondered as her sneezing finally subsided.
“Well, you tell me what you can see between me and your father?” Sawako winked at her daughter as she started to look around over the plants that automatically went back to their lives when she touched them.
Mikage watched her mother tend those weak and almost dying plants and flowers around the ruined old shrine of their family. Sawako was using her natural familiar to tend them and Sally’s team was totally amazed at what the lady maiden can do even though they already witness something like that in their previous task.
“From what I could recall, you and dad acted like teenagers and most of the time just cats and dogs. Dad was more one frightened cat than a dominating dog like you, Mom. But it was only shown whenever there were some things you can’t agree with and when you suddenly glared at Dad even though he was just passing or talking about some serious matter which I don’t get it all. But hearing what you just told us…it made sense to me now.” Mikage recalled those moments when she caught her parents bantering and arguing over something simple or maybe big enough for them to cause fire between them. But nonetheless, they were still in a good relationship.
“Good, it was how I’m irritated with your father. I could lose my temper around him.” Sawako chuckled when speaking of her husband coming by that made their conversation about them has been cut off.
“I get it now…but it was still unfair.” Mikage whined as she looked over Sally was not showing again any reaction even to her lips.
“How can she deal with it?” Sally wondered since Mikage was sending death glares at her even though she was still partially sneezing from smelling her scent.
“I can’t exactly tell how to deal with it but based on my case, it’s a process of compromising and acceptance. In short, you need to be trust and honest with others.” Sawako answered when her husband was about to wrap his arms around her waist; he was already upside down when Sawako just flipped him instantly.
“What’s that for? Can I not hug my wife?” Hiroshi asked like a whining kid while he was trying to get back onto his knees.
“Stop whining when you know it will happen when you sneak behind me.” Sawako rolled her eyes at him and turned her heels away from the ruined old shrine.
“But…” Hiroshi tried to reason but he was being cut off.
“No, dessert for you.” Sawako firmly decided that made Hiroshi run after her wife.
“So unfair!” he was running after her wife when he said that.
All of them in the scene that suddenly happened before their eyes, made them looked each other and just leave it be. They could sense the threatening power that was coming from Sawako when she deal with her husband. Mikage looked at them with an apologetic smile since they had to see that side of her parents.
Sally
Fujishima Estate: Old Shrine
Morning – 8:15
“So, your mates.” Anon break the almost-building silence after that scenario with Mikage’s parents and went straight to the point.
“And since that’s the case, what’s your decision, Sally?” Onyx still asked though they already knew what will be the answer of Sally based on how they know her.
“We know that you already decided to stay with Lady Mikage but we need to hear it clearly since we’re also going to explain to the boss about your coming.” Sab told her and Sally already know about that part.
“I’ll stay with her even though we’re not mates.” Sally answered them but she knew that JC want to ask something that made her look at her.
“Can we know why?” JC noticed that and asked what she was thinking regarding that part.
“Just tell Ice that I’ll be staying with Lady Mikage Fujishima and she already knew why.” Sally smiled at them and even patted the shoulder of JC.
“And don’t worry about anything else even though I’m not your leader anymore. I already prepared for it just in case this occur.” Sally added that made them look confused at her.
“You knew?” Anon reacted animatedly which made Sally shake her head even though Anon received a pinch to his side from JC.
“No, but it’s a gut feeling after handling their estate.” Sally answered as she looked firm and sure at them which made Sab release a heavy sigh.
“Oh bullocks. I hope our next leader was not any unreasonable asshole that will make us work like shit.” Sab was totally pissed when she thought about having a new leader that was totally more irresponsible asshole than Sally already was. Well, she was totally a lazy fellow when it comes to reporting that her teammates snapped at her that’s why she did some reporting directly at Ice.
“Woah, that’s new coming from you, Sab.” Anon reacted to that making him receive a warning smile from Sab and it totally sent off a drying shiver down his spine. He totally looked pale from it.
“She’s always like that. Take it from me.” Sally smiled genuinely at them.
“Sally.” Sab warned as she felt embarrassed about snapping at their team leader after two days of working with her and now it was already been two or three years or maybe more since they were all getting used to each other’s weirdness.
“I know. Good luck and train these two to be your successor to which I hope one day when we need your help, I’ll ask you’re your team.” Sally encouraged her team as she handed to Onyx her report regarding what happened last night and a personal report that needed to be sent to their boss.
“Is Sab will be our team leader?” JC wondered but Sally just smiled as she shook her head. Sab has the potential to be a leader but Sally had something under her sleeve that one day they will be surprised.
“No, since it will be Ice's decision. So better to work together.” Sally hid something that will benefit them sooner once it was approved by Ice.
“We will.” They answered in unison which made Sally stand up straight like she always does whenever she was about to say something to her team.
“So listen up, for your last command under my care. Stick together at all costs since you’re already in sync. Don’t let anything get in between you guys. Whoever was being added or your leader, treat them as your family like you did to me and decide as one. But if they won’t…stand up even if it was just the four of you. Remember, I’m the one who trained you.” she commanded making them nod in agreement.
“Yes, Lady Sally.” They answered in unison again.
“Dismiss.” She dismissed them.
“Thank you for your service. We won’t forget what you’ve taught us. We won’t let you down.” They thanked her for everything that she managed to share with them.
“Don’t let yourself down.” Sally reminded them for the last time.
“Yes, we will.” They all said and they all turned their heels as they went back to their car while trying to hold back their tears not to fall from the partings that they just did there.
Mikage
Seeing how Sally and her team went on their separate ways, Mikage went closer to her crush and even held her hand while watching Sally’s team march away from where they were still standing at. She does not know or even understand what she just did there since Sally just gave her a glance. With one deep breath from Sally, she fully turned around and meets the newly anointed shrine maiden before her. Mikage could sense something swirling around Sally that made the bell ring once again then there she goes on sneezing.
“Argh! Remind me again not to inhale too much of your scent.” Mikage groaned as she sneezed twice in a row before her eyes began to water again from irritation hitting her nose up to her eyes.
“Sorry about that, but since we’re mates, here. Take it; it might help to lessen your irritation whenever you’re with me. Plus, it will be your protection like an alarm system if there was something hidden in that shadow or deceiving you just to hurt you.” Sally looked amused at her but gets something over her pocket and grabbed the hand over Mikage just to put something over it.
“It's magatama bead…where did you get it?” Mikage noticed the bead that Sally gave to her. She asked but Sally was already walking around the old and ruined shrine since some construction workers were about to do their measuring for the renovation around the area.
“I have plenty of it and I only gave them to those who really needed that. But you know when its natural color turned dark and taint, it means it was near collapse. In short, it needed some cleansing already if not, it will only call darkness and more beast than last night. Do you understand?” Sally answered while walking straight ahead of her. Mikage was running to catch up to her and when she did, she already understood that part yet there was something else that her gut was telling her.
“Yeah, I get it. I have one in my bedroom but it's pearl color and not emerald-like yours.” Mikage wondered as she pointed out as well the suddenly different color of Sally’s magatama bead.
“Well, they only changed colors when I gave them. It will change into what kind of energy flow that needed to be cleansed or taken care of. From there, they can be cleansed.” Sally cleared that part to her and made Mikage halt while staring over the green magatama that Sally gave to her.