Nanami Becomes A Full-Pledge Land Deity Part 2
MIKOTO"I only have one talisman left", Nanami reminded us.
"I think we have no other choice but to use that", I told her in a meaningfully way. She understood and unwillingly wrote on the talisman. It flew the moment she finished writing.
Onikiri used this chance to lead us the way and we stopped in front of a large dead tree. "Hurry, Nanami-sama, Mikoto-dono, climb! It's the only way to shake a witch off is to climb trees!"
"Okay!" Without a second thought, I started climbing. I may not be accustomed to climbing trees but the adrenaline rush in my blood pushed me to make it possible. Nanami hesitated for a moment but still followed me behind.
" (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ EEKK! It's so high, so high", cried Nanami who was being left behind since I climbed faster than her because of her clothes. I've finally reached another branch and reached my hand towards her. "Nanami, here!"
When she finally grabbed for my hand, I noticed the witch caught up with us.
----＼(〇□ｏ)／ | ← Mikoto
EHH! She's closing in on us!
|＼(l|l º □ º)/ | ← Nanami
She's right behind me!
| ╭╲ (ఠ益ఠ)╮/╲ | . ← Witch
Ekhekhek! I finally found you, little girls.
The witch also climbed the tree and immediately grabbed one of Nanami's legs.
"AIEE! LET GO OFF ME! LET GO OFF ME!" Nanami screamed while trying to kick off the old hag.
"Wait, Nanami! I can't pull you up properly if you're movi-WAHHH!" I lost my balance and almost slipped off the branch if it weren't for Onikiri's help.
"Looks like you're in big trouble, Nanami", a familiar voice spoke beside me. "I flew over, after hearing that you're in a pinch"
"To-Tomoe!" Nanami happily called his name.
"He's finally here", I thought. "I'm glad Nanami's talisman reached him at the right time. Now, I just hope thing will still go on smoothly like in anime, or else I'll die", I secretly cried inside my mind.
ﾊ_ﾊ " ԅ( ˘⌣˘) ...to watch you from above, that is " He added.
" ╲ (°ロ°╲) WHA-T!?"
...uhhh.. but I still really hate his attitude. If I wasn't holding onto Nanami, I've already hit this guy.
Hearing that Tomoe won't help us, the witch laughed once more and pulled Nanami harder. This infuriates Nanami "I said, let me go!" She kicked her harder also in which she succeeded to make the witch fall but it also made me more unbalance in my position.
"Whaa~!" I cried. "That was careless, I almost fall", I told her while we try to catch our breath after she also managed to hold onto the branch where I was on with the help of Kotetsu and Onikiri.
"Do you want me to save you?" Tomoe told Nanami in a cheeky way while ignoring me. "You want my help, right?" He teases her once more.
Nanami gave him a hateful glare but he didn't mind it. He continued with a smile, "If you cry and beg and admit that you were a fool, I might consider helping both of you."
"Wh-who would want help from you?" she scoffed.
"Eheheheh", I laughed sarcastically trying to hide the fatigue that's building up in my whole body. "Sorry Nanami, looks like you can't expect something from this bratty fox", I stated in a provoking way.
"Hey, who are you calling bratty, you brat-", before he finished refuting my sentence, I felt dizzy and completely lost my balance causing me to fall down.
Ahh..
Luckily, I managed to grip to another branch below and stopped my fall. Confusingly, I thought I saw Tomoe almost ready to jump when I fall. He doesn't care for me, right?
"Mikoto!"
"Mikoto-dono!"
Nanami and the spirits worriedly called me back in reality. I don't have any extra strength left to reply back at them nor have any extra strength left to climb again and my hands are sweating like crazy, I hands might slip anytime soon... And the witch is climbing back again; I'm in big trouble.
"Nanami, please save me", I prayed.
"Nanami-sama, please repeat after me. I was a fool", I heard Onikiri pleaded.
"I don't wanna!"
"Please ask of Tomoe-dono's forgiveness"
"I won't!"
"Tomoe-dono, please! As long as Nanami-sama said that, you'll save her and Mikoto-dono, right?" Kotetsu asked for confirmation.
ﾊ_ﾊ "Uh, Ah, Ye-yeah, Of course (;¬﹏¬ ) ", he replied in a shaky tone.
"Nanami-sama, say it!" the two still tries to encourage her. "Just once"
Hwah-!
I'm starting to lose my grip again and the demon hag is already closing in.
"Hurry up Nanami or else your friend will face her doom soon", Tomoe reminded her.
"I said, NO! ヽ( 'д'*)ノ
"Wh-who the hell would say that?! I'd rather do this than humbling myself before to someone like him", Nanami protested before grabbing Tomoe's leg and letting go of her grip on the branch.
"You idiot!" Tomoe shouted while they fall. "You could have just said it, you know? Still acting stubborn, do you really wish to die?"
Nanami didn't reply. As they passed by me, she grabbed Tomoe's collar and k-k-kissed him.
Bind the contract and forthwith you shall....
A soft smile formed on my lips.
"Tomoe", Nanami started his order. "SAVE ME!"
A light flashed from their direction and Tomoe who was now completely bounded by her contract doesn't have any choice but to catch her fall. They both gracefully landed on the ground.
"Nanami-sama", Onikiri and Kotetsu cried in joy. "You're now a bona fide deity of the land now!"
I let go of the branch where I was holding on and let myself fall.
"N-no, my prey", the witch who was frozen on her place because of the shocking twists of events returned to her sense.
"Tomoe", Nanami called him but before she tells him what to do, Tomoe already jumped and caught me in the air and gently handed me to Nanami's arms.
"AH! What have you done to my preys?" The demon witch complained.
"Come here, you damn hag", he barked and he threw a ball of foxfire which caught her. "It's your fault that I'm a familiar again. Did you know how long I waited for my freedom? Ha?" Tomoe keeps complaining and kicking the tied up witch.
"I'm just a frail, old woman! What are you doing?!" She tried to defend herself.
As if anyone would believe that 'frail' part. She almost killed me!" I pointed out with a weak laugh when I found myself regaining back some of my strengths.
"Are you alright, Mikoto?" Nanami worriedly asked me. "Yep, I'm fine now thanks to you and Tomoe."
He may have a bad attitude but I don't lack respect to thank him since he obviously saved me even if it is under Nanami's orders.
"But he doesn't look very heroic right now", Onikiri and Kotetsu sweatdropped.
"How about you?" I asked back and she put a sweet smile. "I'm fine, I'm fine. No need to worry. Ehehe, I had quite a courage when I heard your voice in my head."
"Huh? My prayer?" I wondered.
"Ahh", Nanami suddenly lost the strengths on her knees and almost fall on the ground if it wasn't for my support on her body.
"Nanami-sama!!" The shrine spirits hurried to her side.
"Are you really sure you're okay, Nanami?" I questioned her again.
"Ahahah.. yeah.. I just.. my legs can't stop shaking now", she replied still with a smile plastered on her face and trying to hide her fear.
"Let's go back to the temple, Nanami-sama. We've got Tomoe-dono back safe and sound with us too", the two spirits suggested but Tomoe disagreed. "Don't joke around, who said I'm going back with you?"
"Ah, I almost forgot. Tomoe.." Nanami called him back. He, who doesn't have any other choice but to listen to Nanami replied unwillingly, "What?"
ﾊ___ﾊ 。.:☆*: (＠＾◡＾) ☆*:.｡. (⁄ ⁄↼⁄_⁄↼⁄ ⁄)
"Thank you for saving me.", "• • •" "Can we go back home now?" ↑ ↑
Nanami Tomoe
Tomoe just continued to stare at us quietly before turning on his way and started leading us.
I grinned at the scene in front of my eyes. Believe me, it's more heart-warming in reality and Tomoe looks cute when he's just quiet like this. I pulled Nanami back on her feet and we hurriedly followed Tomoe and our little shrine spirits on our way back at the temple, our new home.
~ʚĭɞ~
Author's Note:
bunshin no jutsu(5)– or clone technique, a term they also use for the log substitution that ninjas do, like in Naruto XD
Ittedakimasu(6) - often translated as "I humbly receive," but in a mealtime setting, it's compared to "Let's eat," "Bon appétit," or "Thanks for the food."
