Mayoi’s face lit up. Clearly, she had been charmed. She, too, reached out to stroke the beast’s silver head.
“Good. There’s a lot of things that need fixing around here. It’s nice to meet you too.”
“Mayoi! You traitor!”
They all turned to see Tomohito looking aghast. He was actually in tears.
He looks like a puppy that’s been abandoned, Akari thought, just as Kansuke came back carrying aloft a bottle of sake.
“What are we crying about now, Tomohito?”
“…Shut up, Kansuke.”
“That’s not the right attitude, Tomohito. You know, the young girly’s the only one who’s ever bothered to give me a decent reading too. Don’t go thinking you can keep her all to yourself.”
“Yeah, Tomohito! Mistress belongs to me as well. I’ll keep this house for no one but her.”
Akari stared at them both. Kansuke and Mayoi, both pledging their loyalty to her…
But Tomohito remained defiant, jaw jutting angrily.
“Mistress Akari read me first, years and years before any of you!”
“You don’t have to get so upset.”
“Yes I do! I’ve finally gotten the chance to be with Mistress Akari for life! We have to start this thing off right! We have to make sure everyone knows who her number one is!”
“Oh, so you want to make it interesting? All right. Let’s see if you can beat me in a fight, demon.”
“Gladly!”
“I enjoy a good brawl. I’ll join in as well.”
In quick succession, Kansuke whipped out his sword, Tomohito ripped off his white gloves, and Rai transformed back into human form.
They were going to fight it out to see who came out on top? Seriously?
Akari sighed and threw up her hands. But just then, the floor began to quake violently beneath everyone’s feet.
Correction—under everyone’s feet but Akari’s and Mayoi’s. Mayoi was standing with her hands on her hips, scowling.
“No bothering the Mistress! And no fighting in MY house!”
“Wow, Mayoi!”
None of the three had fallen, but they were all holding on to furniture and looking flustered. And impressed.
“I guess we can’t…”
“…Go against what Mayoi says.”
“Hmm, but—”
“DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY?!”
“Not a word.”
“No, Mayoi…”
“Not me, little Silkie.”
The trio mumbled in unison as Mayoi gave them the stink eye. It was so funny, seeing them all groveling before such a tiny child. Akari burst out laughing.
An ancient house spirit in the form of a little girl. A samurai warrior from the history books. A Western spirit merged with elements of Eastern folklore. And the strongest demon any folktale had ever told of. What a strange assortment of characters. How odd that Akari should belong to a group like this!
But this was her life from now on. This house…and these spirits.
Tomohito had tried to make amends for his part in her tragic past. But his efforts were misguided. After all, the happiness she’d lost in childhood could never be replaced.
But he’d brought her here, to this house…to this new life.
He was so kind, so strange, and yes, sometimes he was frightening…but in Akari’s eyes, he was still the coolest demon around.
Not that she’d ever tell him that. She could only imagine how such compliments would go to his head.
She kept on giggling, feeling her chest swell with emotions. Wide-eyed, the four of them stared at her.
That’s strange. Akari frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re not half so plain as I thought, girly!”
“Your smile is beautiful, Mistress.”
“You look so pretty, Mistress!”
Kansuke seemed taken aback. Rai gave her a wolflike smile. And Mayoi clasped her hands together, beaming.
“Your smile is all I need in this world, Mistress Akari.”
Tomohito was grinning too, his face shining with joy.
Akari blushed. What a fuss to make over a smile. She glossed over the compliments.
“So has everyone finished bickering? I, for one, am starving.”
“What can I prepare for you, Mistress?”
“I’d like Hamburg steak, and miso soup with tofu floating in it! I already bought the ingredients.”
Mayoi nodded as she rummaged through the grocery bags Tomohito had put down earlier, then puffed out her chest.
“Just leave it to me!”
Akari smiled. Then she realized Tomohito was staring at her, his mouth open. She met his eye and nodded.
“That’s your favorite, isn’t it?”
“You… You remembered…”
Akari gave him the slightest of winks.
She recalled her childhood days spent sitting on the kubizuka mound, chatting with the demon as she ate sweet bean candy. How he had envied her ability to eat food back then. And how nice to know she could carry on sharing meals with him every day.
Tomohito seemed to swell with happiness. Beside him, Kansuke was talking to Rai.
“Have a drink with me, little buddy from the Western lands.”
“What are we drinking?”
“Alcohol, little buddy. What else? The great friendship maker, since ancient times!”
Somehow both smiling and frowning at the same time, Rai allowed Kansuke to put his arm around him and lead him out of the room. But before they could leave, Akari remembered something.
“Wait a second! I need to give this to you first, Rai. You too, Tomohito.”
“Me too, Mistress?”
She took both Rai and Tomohito by the hand and led them to the library, where the Kotogatari were displayed.
“You need a proper place on a Kotogatari shelf! It’s just like choosing your own room! Go on—pick a shelf!”
Rai’s wolflike ears twitched.
“A place of my very own?”
“Yes. This is your home after all, from now on.”
Rai looked down bashfully.
“I don’t remember much of my old life…but I do recall the comfort that comes from having a place to belong to.”
Rai started examining each shelf carefully to see which he liked best. Meanwhile, Akari turned to Tomohito, who was standing there looking hesitant.
“Which one is yours, Tomohito?”
“My shelf? It’s that one, Mistress.”
Tomohito pointed to an especially large shelf, with plenty of space for displaying a book. Just the right sort for a Kotogatari containing a demon of Tomohito’s strength and power. But the shelf was mostly symbolic, since Tomohito seemed to much prefer walking around outside his Kotogatari as he saw fit. Akari knew that.
“But why this talk of shelves all of a sudden?”
“Because I’ve made my home here now. There’s no need for you to go out all over the city looking out for me. You deserve a place to rest too.”
Books belonged on a bookshelf. That was just common sense. Mayoi and Kansuke returned here to their books after manifestations, so it followed that Tomohito and Rai should do the same.
But Tomohito was gazing at Akari with an imploring look in his eyes.
“I’d rather have my book stored in your book bag. Then you could carry me around with you and always keep me close.”
“Ah, that sounds like too much effort.”
“But, Mistress!”
Akari placed Kansuke’s volume onto his shelf first. Then she set Tomohito’s amber-colored book onto his as he watched. He made no protest, and she realized he didn’t really mind having his book stored here after all.
As she moved on, Tomohito remained standing in front of his book, gazing at its amber cover. He appeared a bit dazed, but also somewhat relieved.
“I’m not finished yet, am I?”
“No. You’ll continue to be, as long as I remember you always and keep telling your story.”
Because stories can never end, as long as there is someone around to tell them.
As a child, Akari had lost everything and everyone, along with her memories. But there was someone else who had kept the memory of her childhood in his mind and heart all this time…Tomohito.
He looked at her with surprise now. Apparently, his question had been rhetorical. But her answer made him smile, a smile that reminded her of flowers blooming after a long rain. Then he nodded vigorously.
“Yes, Mistress!”
Finally, Rai turned to look at them, his inspection of the bookshelves seemingly complete.
“Mistress, I have decided.”
Akari solemnly placed Rai’s book onto his desired shelf as he watched with anticipation. Then she turned to face the two Kotogami, her expression bright and clear.
“Now that that’s taken care of, let’s eat!”
Dinner that evening was a noisy affair, filled with laughter and good cheer.
As for the Hamburg steak and the miso soup with tofu floating in it… Akari had never tasted anything better.