3:48 pm July 27th, 2018
Shiro stood outside a train station followed by Enji and Arashi who wore their usual outlandish outfits. As the train sped off behind them Arashi screamed in annoyance,
"WHY DID WE GET PAIRED UP WITH YOU??"
Shiro sighed heavily while Enji instantly pinched his ear. "I told you to respect the newcomer. He's almost at your level now."
Weatherman had gotten demoted due to his failure on his last mission, and as a result, Enji was promoted to the empty Vice-captain role by Aiko. To try make up for the incident, Weatherman partook in a separate mission by himself. The scale of the following mission was decently big so Enji, Arashi and Shiro were grouped up together.
As they spoke an elderly-looking man approached the two that wore a white and blue kimono. Oddly though he was completely barefoot.
"You guys stick out like sore thumbs. I'll assume that you're the Psychics that the association sent?"
Enji immediately bowed down while Arashi followed suit. Shiro not getting a clue asked,
"And who are you?"
"Are you stupid??", Arashi shouted. "This man is the client that has asked for help. And he isn't just any ordinary man, but the current head priest of Kyoto's' Shinto shrine, Fushimi Inari Taisha!"
"There is no need for that. It's fine really.", the old man said. "My name is Kotsuki and like he said, I'm the head priest of the shrine in this city. Why don't I take you back with me?"
When the two arrived at Kotsuki's shrine, many Tori gates were stacked behind each other, creating a bright red hallway that emits an aura of holiness.
"Make sure you stick close by me," Kotsuki said. "These gates aren't ordinary but were empowered by a certain god's blessing 1000 years ago. They were built to keep any harm that may befall this shrine away. If you aren't careful you could find yourself in another dimension."
As they walked, the endless tunnel of Tori gates finally came to a halt. Revealing a single-floor but elevated old Japanese hut that was surrounded by white pebbles.
"Aren't temples meant to be bigger than this? I don't see a lot of people here either.", Shiro said.
Kotsuki laughed while responding, "Thanks to those Tori gates no one has been able to break into this place for the last one hundred years, and even then that person was stupidly strong. The only people that are here are me and-"
The door suddenly slammed open, revealing a girl slightly smaller than Shrio. She wore a priestess outfit that was white and red unlike the Kotsukis' and had long blonde hair.
"Grandpa!," She shouted as she jumped into the old man's arms while laughing.
"I told you that you're too big for that! One of these days you'll break my back.", Kotsuki said weakly. "Now why don't you go prepare some tea for our guests?"
She made a scary look at Shiro, which looked akin to a savage fox. As she bore her unusually sharp teeth at him the Akatsuki patted her head while saying,
"What did I say about showing hostility to others??"
She then frowned a little before retreating back into the building.
4:38 pm July 27th, 2018
The 4 sat around a small table where they waited patiently. Then suddenly the priestess slid open the doors while carrying, a clay teapot and 4 cups. She placed them on the table while still bearing hostility towards Shiro. She quickly left just as fast as she entered.
While pouring out the tea for everyone Kotuski said, "I'm sorry about her behaviour. She is actually my granddaughter, Hoshiko. We don't usually get guests around her so that might explain it somewhat, but I can assure you that she meant no harm."
As he handed out each cup of green tea, Arashi said as he quickly chugged it,
"Let's skip the formalities and get straight to the point, old man."
He then jumped up while screaming as he burnt his tongue on the tea.
"You're awfully impatient for a ninja," Enji said as she blew on hers.
"I guess you're right, I better stop wasting your time," Kotsuki said, "In this temple, we worship the patron god Inari no Okami who is the god of foxes and success. Every 10-20 years or so, the goddess sends down her blessing in the form of a fox shikigami that incarnates into a daughter of our family, the Inari Clan. In this generation, that person would be Hoshiko. Below this temple is a nine-tailed fox that is known as a Kyubi. Every 10 years since its birth it always grew one extra tail which caused it to rise in power and in consequence, the seal on it grew weaker. The 100th year since its sealing approaches us, and as a result the seal on it will weaken greatly. The only way to strengthen it, is to feed the fox shikigamis incarnate to the Kyubi. This is a tradition which has been carried out since our ancestors, and the birth of the Kyubi."
Shiro then asked, "So you're saying that Hoshiko has to die to keep it sealed? What's stopping normal psychics from killing it?"
"The Kyubi is a spirit in nature, so naturally it's very violent. Not long after its birth, it somehow became immortal hence it needing to be sealed." Kotsuki replied. "There is even a prophecy written about it in our scriptures:
'On the first night of its birth, one sign will emerge. On the second night, the next sign will pass by. On the third night, the next sign will be born.'
Each night represents 10 years and one sign represents one tail. However, that isn't all of it.
'On the tenth night, It shall give birth to the king of beasts who will enslave all of the fauna.'
As Arashi rubbed his tongue he asked, "What does that mean?"
Kotuski shrugged while saying, "Not even I understand that scripture fully. However, if that thing ever breaks free from its prison, humanity will definitely suffer unimaginable consequences."
"And you need us to protect Hoshiko until that time comes? How long is that exactly?", Enji asked.
"2 weeks from now. I will also need you to protect us during the ritual. Without a doubt there will definitely be people targeting us, it has occurred in the past as well."
Shiro got up after finishing his tea and began to stretch. He then slid open the door revealing the expansive forest that laid out before him.
Without showing his face he simply said, "I'm gonna step out for a bit."
He quickly closed the door behind him while leaving a tense atmosphere in the room.
Arashi said in complaint, "This is why he shouldn't have come with us. He might jeopardise this mission. Clearly, he's too soft for this kind of stuff."
"He's only been a psychic for around 2 months now. We're defending a girl that's about to die, if you were in his position you would be uncomfortable as well.", Enji argued back.
"That's the problem. Why was someone as immature as him assigned to such a risky mission? What was going through Captain Aiko's head when she decided this?", Arashi asked.
"It wasn't Aiko who chose him for this mission.", Enji replied. "The Overseer intervened for some odd reason. I've never liked that woman since joining this squad, but clearly she's up to something again."