23. Lessons
The important thing first; she isn’t a demon.
That’s good.
If Mayumi dragging me to that lesbian snack bar was good for one thing, it was teaching me how to spot a demon in human disguise. No matter how powerful they are, a demon’s eyes will always lack reflections, and in low light their pupils will carry a red glow.
Looking in the smiling pools of amber before me, it’s clear that the light of my lantern is getting caught in them and not the faintest hint of red can be seen.
Which leaves the far more outlandish option as the only possibility.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like that don’t believe in the spirits, but… I’m not exactly a true believer either, or 'was' if you to get pedantic.
Because yes, it’s kinda hard right now to claim they don’t exist.
My little fence sitting I was practicing so well of , 'it’s the polite thing to do' and 'I don’t know if they’re real but it’s better to treat them as if for the eventuality that they are' is rapidly collapsing.
I never expected to actually come face to face with one!!!
These encounters should be reserved for like, legends or stories old folk tell you to keep you on the right path.
And I stayed in the damn path!
Never moved off it!
I promise.
So this isn’t supposed to happen.
Eep!
But she is grateful, so I’m safe. Right?
Yes, I killed that demon she called an “uncouth neighbor” and thanked me for it.
Which should mean as long as I continue to stay on her good side, nothing bad will happen.
I swallow.
“You’re too kind Mrs. Fox-spirit, but I think I’ll have to decline.”
“I’m not a fox-spirit little miko. Whatever gave you that impression?”
“I can see your tail.”
That came out faster than intended.
Shouldn’t have said that.
That was stupid.
Also we are dropping the honorifics now?
She giggles and turns her head to take a look at her own tail.
“Oh what a silly mistake, my apologies!”
That wasn’t a mistake! You did that on purpose, because I was about to leave you, lying kitsune! I’m not that naive!
( •̀⤙•́ )
Focusing back on me, she makes the same expression old grandma’s make right before they pinch your cheeks.
Please don’t.
In full business-woman regalia and her fox-tail swaying languidly behind her she extends her hand, inviting me to take it. “Come little miko, we shall finish what you so kindly started. Your services are only required for tonight, I promise.”
Yeah, because I can totally trust a word you say.
There is still the option of just bolting in the opposite direction.
I’m considering it.
It would be easy.
I shouldn’t. It would anger her and currently I have her goodwill, and the goodwill of a spirit isn’t something one should squander so lightly. Remaining calm and polite is the way to go. She wouldn’t harm me, the guy who got rid of the demon that was harassing that shrine she seems to be fond off. I’m safe.
Yes, she said she was grateful, as long as I don’t squander that, all will end well. I’m sure of it.
My breath is shaking.
I take her hand.
『 … 』
What was that?
It felt like getting bathed in ants. Fucking horrible. It made me close my eyes for a second.
Hu?
Who is she holding in her arms and where did that second person come from?
Wait that’s me!
HOW AM I LOOKING AT MYSELF FROM THE OUTSIDE!?
The fox tailed woman slowly lowers my body and gently lays it down on the soft ground of the hillside while I can do nothing but watch in utter disbelief. What even would be an appropriate reaction to this?
Out of nowhere she produces a blanket made from leaves to drape my motionless self in it, completely obscuring it from view.
She turns with a wide smile.
“We shall let her rest while we work, it is only proper.”
“Uhm… Mrs. F-f-f-f-fox spirit can I a-a-ask w-what’s going…?”
Who said that!? That didn't sound like me! Such a high and melodic voice.
I look down.
『 !!! 』
WUAH!!!
I'm wearing a different outfit. No cosplay, genuine shrine maiden dress. And the long strands of hair falling past my shoulders aren’t from a wig. I instinctively grab my chest. Wuah—those are genuine too. Also, ouch—quite sensitive. And, yeah thething… gracefully absent.
I take everything back, this was the best impulse decision of my life.
I’ll do whatever you say Mrs. Kitsune! You’re the best! ₊˚⊹♡₊
She tilts her head.
Oh.
Right.
(๑﹏๑//)
I’m making a completely idiot out of myself. Girls don’t just grab their own boobs in public out of nowhere. Not something I should be doing, because I’m a girl, like right now, I’m a girl.
⋆ ˚｡⋆♡ I’m a girl ♡⋆ ˚｡⋆
I do a little jump and a barely held back squeal.
Best moment of my life!
Oh yeah right, she is still looking.
I try to compose myself best I can and brush out my red hakama.
She patiently waits.
“To answer your question little miko, you are dreaming. Everything will be right as rain when you wake up. You have my word.”
I throw myself into a deep bow.
“Thankyouforturningmeintoagirl!”
Her only reaction is to giggle until I rise, when she says with a sheepish grin, “You’re an odd one aren’t you?”
"Eh?”
"Come.”
I mean, okay maybe I’m a bit odd, but give me a break this is a super surreal situation.
At first I wasn’t sure where I was to follow her, but uhm… the tiny shrine is gone. In it’s place stands a wooden gate and stone steps are climbing up the hill behind it, those weren’t there before.
She gestures me to come to her past the gate.
Okay, fine by me.
Up we go, her and her bushy tail in the lead and me directly behind.
It's going to take a while, because these steps most likely lead to the very top.
But far be it from me to complain.
I currently get to be a girl, so what do I care?
I take in my surroundings.
Beyond the narrow stone steps, the forest presents itself as thick and ancient as before, even if the darkness is gone. The night seems to be illuminated by an unnatural sourceless twilight that allows me to see without a lantern.
I think it’s safe to assume that I’m a spirit at the moment while my body is asleep down by the path on the mossy ground. Sure hope that leaf blanket of hers is warm enough, don’t want to wake up sick.
I take another peek at myself.
This still too surreal.
I’d say it feels like a dream and technically it is, I guess, but this feels nothing like a dream. Like I’m very aware of all my senses and how my body is different, down to the odd new weight distribution, that’s not how dreams usually work.
My eyes get caught on a bracelet made from intricate red string and plain wooden pearls on my wrist. Its presence is strangely comforting.
“Uhm… Mrs. Fox-spirit, what kind of bracelet is this?”
She halts to turn around.
A green flame flickers in front of my eyes.
Since when does she have a lantern? And where the hell did she get it from?
“That’s your protection omamori little miko, naturally it comes with you.”
“My… ? Oh, this is like the spirit representation of my Hunter’s Mark? Does that mean I can summon my weapon?”
“Yes of course, you shall not be without it.” She taps her chin, ”Yet I suppose there will be no need for it. No uncouth stray could ever pass the gate. It is after all impenetrable to their ilk.”
She studies me as if unsure of something.
“Before we wander on I feel the need to rid you of any lingering doubts, you little miko are not dead. Though on second thought I don’t actually have to tell you, don’t I? This is not your first time.”
I get a playful eyebrow raise from the fox tailed salary-woman.
“Huh, so you know that I got reincarnated?”
“No I don’t. You’re full of surprises, how endearing. Fufufu〜.”
Her lips get pulled into a wide grin while she closes her eyes.
So we are back to the obvious lying?
(¬_¬ )
Got it.
She leaves no room for further words and carries on with her climb.
I follow.
As suspected our trek leads us to the top of the hill deep in the forest. Where we're greeted by three wooden buildings forgotten by time, flanking a courtyard of stone tiles. Old, worn, small, and yet the structures still hold the grandeur they always did, a minor temple. I’ve no idea to whom it belongs, or if I would be even able to perceive it were I not a spirit.
As I wash my hands and rinse my mouth at the stone basin filled with fallen leaves the full dilapidation of the place sets in.
My guide, the woman with the fox tail has lost her smile for the moment.
Is this her temple?
And what are we doing here?
My unvoiced question gets immediately answered with a broom that gets shoved into my hands. Where did she get it from? This suddenly having stuff she wasn’t holding a second ago is super disorienting and she keeps doing it!
“Now come little miko, do you duty.” She beams while giving me a pat on the head.
I get the itch to say something very mean, but I got to remember my place, don’t want to upset her, so whatever.
At least I’m a girl.
Frankly, any activity right now would be my greatest joy and it’s not like I’m not familiar with sweeping floors.
I start, unsure of how diligently I have to be, but I think getting the stone tiles somewhat free of fallen leaves, branches and other grime is the task at hand.
Mrs. Fox-spirit watches me for a while with satisfaction in her eyes which is somewhat uncomfortable, but hey, if that’s my price for getting to be a girl, I don’t actually mind.
She leaves to seemly rummage aimlessly through the modest buildings.
I continue alone.
To pass the time I decide to explore this new voice of mine and try singing a few songs I know from my old world. It goes well. Never had my own singing lifted my mood so much. I really like sounding like this.
Actually this is such a great night.
I totally stomped that demon monkey while taunting the shit out of him. He had such a thin skin. Hihihi. That fight was super energizing. This right now feels as good, if a bit more tranquil. There is this warm mushy ball of happiness in my chest.
It’s wonderful.
Me, the broom and a melody.
Not sure how much time passed, but I’m like, half done, when my caretaker emerges again to watch me from a little distance away.
With her head tilted she asks, “Who was your instructor little miko?”
“Uh… Mrs. Fox-spirit you do understand that I’m not actually a shrine maiden?"
She giggles, “Fufufu〜 you look like a miko to me little miko.”
I stop to eye her critically.
Yeah because you put me in this outfit, I didn’t like, magical girl transform myself into it you mischievous kitsune! My second argument that I’m a guy and therefore ineligible, doesn’t work anymore, so you got me there.
I huff, “I guess.”
“Yes perfect, as you lack proper education I shall become your teacher little miko. It is only right〜.”
(⊙ _ ⊙ )
“Uhm, that is very kind of you Mrs. Fox-spirit but there is really no need. I absolutely don’t want to burden you with stuff like that. You’re probably super busy and stuff. Such an illustrious spirit such as you, totally has better things to do than to train someone like me.”
OH FUCK!
WHAT THE FUCK!?
She isn’t serious is she?
As wonderful as this whole getting be a girl thing is, that’s a bit too far. Constantly having to be mindful not to anger her would give me a heart attack so fast. It’s better that we go our separate ways after this.
“No, no, little miko, I saw your fighting. That wasn’t proper, a proper miss needs to be taught how to conduct herself in combat. I shall not rest until I’ve made sure the little miko won’t perish providing her services to the community. I would not be able to forgive myself if that were to happen. I would cry for days heart broken to know the light of such a pure soul was extinguished. The little miko would not want that, now would she?”
So she's seeing me dead already? Great. That’s comforting. Not!
“You’d teach me how to fight demons?" I ask with considerable doubt in my voice.
“Yes!” She shines her brightest smile yet. The edges curl further and I can see the mischief seep in as she reveals her teeth, sharp canines. “And you shall be taught how to be a proper little miko.”
I shudder. So that’s the bargain?
I get to remain on her good side and she trains me in combat but also in whatever she understands under ‘how to be a proper miko’? Why do I get the feeling I won’t like whatever that entails?
“You’re too kind Mrs. Fox-spirit, how could I ever accept such an offer? No, I know of my station and… stuff, yeah that’s… uhm…”
Shit.
“The little miko is too adorable. I simply must insist then.”
Give me a break lady I’m trying, you can’t do that! Please!!!
All I get is an impervious smile for my silent pleas.
Ugh, fuck.
Okay so that’s the price for my temporary girlhood? Fine! Bring it!
I give a bow of acceptance.
“Thank you teacher, for taking me under your wing.”
“Good, then come little miko, or more accurately, my student.”
“But… I’m not done.” I gesture at the half finished courtyard in protest.
“Oh, yes you are right. Can’t be helped. Now come.”
What was then all that for?
Spirits are so odd.
I lean the broom against a wall and walk to her.
The moment I arrive she hands me a naginata.
“First lesson my student, one does not fight the uncouth with a sword if it can be help. A proper miss keeps her distance if possible, and she uses leverage.”
My fox-tailed teacher grabs a second polearm from nothing and instructs me to mimic her form as she slices the air with clear swings.
Okay. I can do this.
The first form follows a second, then a third.
The spirit demonstrates and I follow.
We continue on and on, one repetition after the other.
Time passes, but I don’t feel any exhaustion and I can’t tell for how long I follow her instructions, but it must be hours.
At the end she collects the weapons. They vanish from her hands as if there were some kind of invisible curtain she put them behind.
Caught in this transient state, unsure of what I should to I wait as the spirits vanishes in one the buildings again to come back with a wooden plaque and a brush.
“It would be only right my students for us to wish for a fruitful cooperation, don’t you think?”
She hands me the plaque and brush.
I do as she proposes and write a short prayer.
I’m about to lift it off the ground to give it to her as I stop and stare at the name I signed with.
That’s not right.
How did I… that makes no sense.
That’s… WHAT?!
∘ ∘ ∘ ?
“Can… can I have a second one? I made a mistake.”
“Where?”
“I… I misspelled my name.” Somehow.
She leans down.
“No you didn’t.”
“No I did, you write my name with 'overcome' and 'self' and not with 'win' and 'beauty’”
“That’s not right, 'overcome' 'self' would be the name one would give to a boy and my little miko is a beautiful girl.”
A cold shiver runs down my spine. The name, that was her doing! But how? Did she somehow compel me to write it with a different spelling?
“Uh… yeah, but that is my name, because… well I’m a boy?”
She frowns deeply and her eyes go up and down my body with ire.
I stammer, “Y-yes I know and I-I-I’m really grateful that you turned me into a girl for this, I am. It is great and wonderful and I love it. Thank you teacher. But it doesn’t last, does it? When I wake up I’ll be the same old guy-me. Am I right?”
Her visage is icy.
“I did not lay a hand on the little miko. I changed nothing about her.”
Great.
We’re doing the obvious lie thing while being angry? That’s disturbing.
Her expression suddenly switches back to her usually smiling self, “If my student wishes to have a different name, I can of course provide. I've named many daughters, blessed them all with a good fate and great fortune.”
“No thank you, I’m happy with my current one. Katsumi is fine.”
At that she pick up the prayer plaque and abandons me.
So I guess the Kami will have to find me without the right name?
Still don’t know whose shrine this even is, my first assumption that it was somehow hers doesn’t hold up on second thought. She is just some wild fox.
With the sweetest smile she returns, taking my hand.
“I have a gift for my student. I want her well protected and this will simply not do.” She cuts my Hunter’s Mark with pair of scissors and swiftly wraps a similar more intricate corded bracelet around my wrist. “This one has been made with affection, it will keep the little miko safe.”
“Thank you.”
“Time to part, do not seek me for I shall seek you, fare well my student.”
Before I have time to react she taps my nose.
The world goes dark.
────୨ৎ────
Something's on my face.
I jump up to find myself buried under a thick pile of leaves.
First a quick check. Everything is still the same—disappointing. Phone and demon heart are present.
Lay of the land? Big leaf pile, mossy ground, forest path in front and a tiny stone shrine to my left.
I sigh, collapsing back into the leaf pile.
Two options, either my less than stellar sleep schedule came back with a vengeance or a wild fox-spirit adopted me. Let’s go with the more plausible option.
For real, I need to sleep more. I’ve been clearly pushing myself too much.
I get up and start picking the leaves off me.
There's about an hour before my shift starts. It’s going to be a tight squeeze, but doable. Get home, get the make-up off, wash myself and leg it to the konbini.
Why are these leaves so sticky?
I pull one from my hair and freeze.
Oh.
(ᵕ—ᴗ—)
I stare at my wrist.
Uh… that’s not my Hunter’s Mark…
Couldn’t I have spent a bit more time on my blissfull island of ignorance, where everything is normal, not stressful and kitsune-free and the worst thing that happened was me choosing an unorthodox place to crash for the night? No?
Ok… just wanted to check.
Instead of the high-tech omamori that looked like a simple sleek metal ring which cost me a good chuck of my income, I’m wearing an intricate, very tight, metal bracelet with three cherry blossom gemstone inlays. It looks supremely cute, girly and expensive.
Mrs. Fox-spirit couldn’t your gift been a bit subtler?
I try prying it off.
Yeah not happening, too tight.
I check my demon-hunter app. The connectivity is still there, so it functions just like a regular Hunter’s Mark? Good to know.
No time to ruminate on any of that.
I jog down the forest path, pick up my backpack at the entrance and run to the main road at the foot of the hill to catch the bus.
On the bus, the subway, even as I take my hastened shower, I keep glancing at the beautiful bracelet on my wrist as proof to myself over and over again that this unbelievable night actually happened. Maybe it isn’t that unbelievable, maybe encounters like these are fairly common in this world?
I haven’t told the gang yet. Something is holding me back. As if by typing it out or telling someone the bubble would burst and the bracelet and the dream that remains in my mind as fresh as the morning dew I woke up with would vanish.
At the very last moment I make it to work, which is good, Hikari isn’t in, so it’s Shiro and more importantly Mr. Kataoka.
After the morning pep-talk, a 'Mr. Kojou' gets belted my way, and I get graced with an invitation to step inside the office, a stuffy closet at the best of days.
Mr. Kataoka opens with how I’m his most valued employee and how he doesn’t want to see me go. Yeah the competition isn't exactly competitive. He talks about the face of the company as intro to the actual issue.
“Mr. Kojou, you inquired what the schedule of this week will be so as to adequately plan your visit at the barber’s, am I correct?”
So my hair is the issue? Okay fine. Whatever.
I get the hint and nod, he continues.
“As always the schedule is on the PC and the hangout in the break room, but it was the right decision of you Mr. Kojou to come to me, it shows initiative.”
Got it, don’t let it ever grow so long again that I have to get called in.
Mr. Kataoka glares at my bracelet.
I put my arms behind my back.
“Must have forgotten to take it off. I had a rough… night.”
Shit. I can’t take it off. Hopefully hiding it beneath a sweat band will do.
“Yet we must never burden our customers with such affairs Mr. Kojou.”
“Yes.”
He dismisses me and I leave with a bow.
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down, and I’ve become quite the nail. As mom said, the company you keep will form your character. My demon-hunter friends are nothing but tall standing nails.
I round the corner and almost crash into a loitering Shiro. Our gacha fan is nosy and bad at hiding it.
He sneers, “Why do you sound so much like a chick?”
“What are you talking about? I don’t. Shouldn’t you be at the till?”
I get an eye-roll as I push past him.
Everyone is a hammer today.
Also what the fuck is Shiro on about?
Whatever. I don't care. Probably had a bad pull streak again. That always makes him cranky.
The day drags on and I can’t wait to be done, because after work I’ll drop off my D-class demon heart and finally get to rank up.
I need to focus on that.
────୨ৎ────
This can’t be.
No, no, no please don’t.
The pen in my hand is shaking.
I can’t possibly request a third form to fill out.
Sitting in the local Guild’s office after I gave them my demon heart, I now stare at the barely filled out paperwork for my formal rank up. Everything is done and got cross-checked. I only need to fill out that damn form. One problem.
It happened again.
I watched my hand the whole time. I just wrote it, as if I had always intended to do so.
'win'
'beauty'
In the name column.
Shit.
That damn kitsune! Every time I want to write my name, that’s what I write. I can’t write my actual name, only that.
Wait.
Oh, no. Could it be?
I look at the cherry blossom bracelet.
It registered perfectly well at the scanner, no issue.
I pull up my demon-hunter ID with mounting dread on my phone.
Welp, under my rank and ID number, where my name should be:
'win'
'beauty'
Nooooo…
Also what the fuck… sex: female???!!!
Is that damn kitsune trying to get me into as much trouble as possible?
And what’s with that photo? I look like a girl in it—where, when, how?
I give up.
My head meets the table.
A long groan makes it up and out my throat.
Why does stuff like this happen to me?
It’s not fair.
I get one wonderful night as a girl and then this.
Just to confirm the extent of the damage I take out my drivers license; regular spelling, my actual sex and the same old pretty boy photo. That’s a relief.
Still I’m currently incapable of writing my name correctly. But—and this is important—she didn’t change everything, so I should be glad about that.
Hey, Chie does IT for the Guild, maybe she can help me.
I'll write her.
---
Katsumi: Hi (⌒▽⌒) ノ
Katsumi: you have access to the demon-hunters guild right?
Katsumi: could you help me out and pull up my hunter's license?
Chie: sure
---
Chie: congratulations!
Chie: wait
Chie: how did you do that????
Katsumi: can you change it back?
Chie: huh
Chie: why?
Katsumi: just do it pls (ㅅ´ ˘ `)
Chie: ok
Katsumi: thx
Chie: np i got you
Chie: but you sure about this?
Katsumi: yes
---
Chie: katsu-chan what is this???
Chie: it reverted my changes
Chie: immediately
Katsumi: try again?
Chie: i did
Chie: 3 times
Chie: it always changes back!
Katsumi: again?
---
Chie: WTF!!!??!?!?!?!??
Chie: KATSUMIIII!!!
Katsumi: what
Chie: katsumi w t f ?
Katsumi: whats going on?
Chie: katsumi
Katsumi: yes???
Chie: u wont believe me