The Imperial Priestess of the Lake Visited the Local Land Deity Part 2

MIKOTO

"Bond-tying prayer?", Nanami repeated. "So it's a love story?"

Himemiko clacked her teeth once more as her affirmative reply.

"Do tell us about it", Tomoe urged her politely.

The princess looked down on the tatami floor, cheeks blushing, "I only met him once..... ten years ago at Tatara Lake"

The introduction caught everyone's interest except Mikoto, of course, since she already knew everything.

She's actually not paying attention right now since she's in a cloud nine because she managed to keep them away from the chaotic event between Tomoe and Aotake.

Himemiko continued. "I fell in love with a human boy. He is Urashima Kotarou, from the new residential area.

"He got lost in the woods near the lake and started crying. He is 8-years old at that time, his crying face is really so adorable". She held her blushing cheeks while she recalls the past.

Nanami sweatdrop. "Are all yokai sadists?", she thought.

"Since then, it's been ten years in the human world. He must have grown up into a fine young man by now. But I can't meet him in this form. I wanted to ask the land deity to tie the interrupted bond between Kotarou and me once more".

"Himemiko-sama!" Aotake tried to cut in but the princess raised her hand, preventing her attendant to talk against her will.

"Nanami-dono", Himemiko's bright round eyes looked at Nanami's. "Would you please grant my wish?"

"She won't" Tomoe butted in before Nanami replied.

"Eh? Why?", our human deity asked in surprise.

"Romance between humans and spirits is a taboo", the fox yokai replied coldly.

"I know.......", Himemiko said softly. "I do know....."

Nanami observed the princess's emotion painted on her face.

"I understood", she said seriously.

"It's a love that won't be fulfilled....."

"......but that's why she came to ask a god"

Himemiko was about to lose hope but her face brightened when Nanami fired up her enthusiasm. "There's not much I can do but let me do the best that I can!"

"No matter if it's a human or a spirit, we all have this girl's same feelings," Mikoto thought secretly. Hiding her bittersweet smile behind her cheerful face.

"WHAAAATTTT??!! Σ(□_□) " Tomoe refuted. "No, you won't do it!"

"I just said I will!" Nanami argued back. "It's decided! We will help Lady Himemiko"

Tomoe lost his word when Nanami said it that way.

"Ahahahah! I get it now!" the Aotake spoke once more as if he got the chance to taunt Tomoe once more, trying to revenge for the humiliation he felt earlier.

"Hahaha! So basically that makes you a craven fox who lets this little girl order you around" The sound of glee can be heard from his voice.

" \(〒д〒)/!! Guh!" It deeply struck painfully inside Nanami's heart.

Incompetent = useless

The word keeps repeating inside the human deity's head.

"Ahahahah!" Tomoe laughed with him. "Well, well. what a perfect opportunity to lighten the party", Tomoe's smile became cold, his eyes piercing towards the other yokai."

"It looks like the princess's attendant is really quite a scathing man. Your accusation is truly harsh". the fox familiar added. "I forgave you earlier but I won't let you escape the second time."

Mikoto shivered. A cold air runs down her spine, and she's sure she's not the only one who feels that way.

"Didn't we just escaped this event earlier", she thought.

"When you put it that way, it leaves your mistress in no position at all." Tomoe continued. "Dare I say, the lady you serve, who came to visit our deity despite knowing her nature, is stooping on her level to ask for her help?"

At the same time, the yokai fox said the last word, the other yokai stood beside him with his katana unsheathed and ready to cut Tomoe's neck.

"I have enough of your impertinent tongue, fox! 💢"

Bloodlust.

The whole room is filled with dark bloodlust.

"Sorry, but even if my master is behind me, I won't go easy on you. Please don't hate me even if I kill you 💢".

"Ha!!? That's my line!💢" Aotake shouted and raised his sword but the swift fox yokai dodge the blade.

"Tomo- Ooofff!"

Before Nanami could finish, Tomoe pushed me back. Mikoto caught her by grabbing her arm on time. "You're in the way. Mikoto take Nanami and leave"

"Hey, Tomoe!💦" Nanami called once more but she can't bring herself to order her familiar to stop or else, she's afraid he won't be able to defend himself.

Himemiko's familiar initiate another attack.

"TAKE THIS!!💢", he dashed ahead and ready to swing his sword, targeting Tomoe's neck again

"Nanami, I'll borrow this!", Mikoto grabbed one of the experimental charms they made this morning from her pocket. Of a sudden, there was a strong gust of wind that pushed Aotake and lost his momentum.

"My my, it's actually unnecessary but it really surprised me", Tomoe looked at the human girls with his pleasant smile.

"As a reward, I've decided I'll cook for you two a delicious fried fish", and with a snap of his fingers, the magical leaf on the lake princess's attendant made him into a wiggling.....fish!?

"Wa-wait!", Nanami called again.

"Cooked in a moderate fire for five minutes, perfect for a nutritious side dish", Tomoe devilishly picked up the fish and readied a fox flame on his other hand.

"Na...nami...?" Mikoto nudges her deity friend once more.

＼＼\\٩(๑'^'๑)۶//／／ "TOMOE! LET GO OF HIM! RIGHT NOW!" 💢

In that instant, Tomoe dropped the fish and raised his hands.

"Honestly, you're taking this too far! Now, sit there and make friends with the fish", then the yokai fox sat down and shake hands with the other transformed yokai's fin.

The scene broke the tension in the atmosphere which made Mikoto immediately burst into her giggling. She tried to hide it by covering her mouth with respect towards Himemiko but it won't help at all.

Nanami sighed.

"Geez", she thought. "He really overdid it. I don't want to repeat another Kurama incident."

"Alright! Now, the fight is over", the shrine maiden said after, still trying herself not to laugh loudly in front of the guest.

Nanami pouted. "Geez, Mikoto, what's funny? I feel like it seems to you as if everything earlier isn't serious"

"Nothing", she giggled once more and pokes Tomoe's cheek who is currently quietly sending sharp glares towards her. "I just realized, Tomoe looks so cute when he's so obedient."

~ʚĭɞ~

Author's Note:

Merry Christmas!!!

How are you guys? I hope you're all doing fine. Since it's the holidays, I updated 2 chapters today. Enjoy, Reading <3

Stay safe from the pandemic and make sure you follow the WHO's advice about washing hands and social distancing. Eat healthy to boost your immune system and don't stay late at night.

Tatara Numa(25) - literally means "Tatara Swamp" but I decided to just write it as Tatara Lake.

(P.S. I feel like I suck at writing stories in 3rd person's view x.x sorry!!)