Tango with Tengus 2

"... Care to repeat that?" Lu asked with a broken smile.

"Huh?... You never did it with Aunt Yoshitsune here in these two millenias. It's weird... Don't you think so too, Sara?"

"I-I guess so. Senior Yoshitsune even said that she suggested it to Y-Your Majesty multiple times. That's what I heard at least!..." Et tu, Sara?! It's most likely because of the hangover, and maybe even a fox was at play here...

"Pray tell, what occurred here, Yoshitsune?" He turned to the culprit at hand.

She was still a blushing mess, whether it came from embarrassment or something else doesn't matter. Even a simpleton like her can understand the conversation.

"That... I was drunk and said some stuff I shouldn't reveal, Lu." It was too shameful for her to look him in the eye.

"Lu? So there was some history! I thought my father was gay or something, Phew! Wait... I have twin mothers, so that idea was impossible from the start, Haha!" What a lively girl, something good probably occurred...

"Anyway! I'm taking Sara with me and no... I have no such ulterior motives. As for what Yoshitsune said... that's just... she suggested it for stress relief or something... That's it!"

"And it didn't result to anything in the end so forget about it. See ya!" It was too much for him to think about so he just stated a half-assed reason and left with Sara in tow.

...

"Was that true, Aunt?" Reizenbou questioned with a serious look.

"... Yes. I suggested it to Milord mainly for stress relief, but we were interrupted everytime he relented..." The confused Yoshitsune only gave a straight forward answer.

"I see..." The Great Tengu was simply lost in thought.

(I should be careful around the twins... My new mothers are crazy...) She easily pieced the mystery together.

Proving that she didn't only inherit her adoptive father's schemy side but also his intellect...

***

"Sara. Sara, Are you there?" Lu inquired to the dazed tengu.

"...Ah! Yes, Your Majesty." She answered after taking a deep breath.

"No need to be formal, there's only the two of us here..." Sara misunderstood it somehow, and blushed.

"Stop daydreaming Sara, I have limited free time." He took her hand to wake her up, yet it only seemed to worsen the situation.

"Hmm? Are you sure you want to do it here in the Police Station, Sara~?" Yeah... That should do the trick.

"...P-Police Station? Ah! I'm sorry, Lu..." There we go, only a few stutters needed.

"I need your help on tracking down a certain detective named Shikanoin Heizou, Sara. Can I count on you?" He requested with his usual smile.

"Umm... Yes, Lu. I'll check the latest records here. There should be a clue for his whereabouts." She broke free from his grasp and got to work.

The deity knew his exact whereabouts but kept it to himself. It was simply refreshing watching the strict tengu cutely searching the place for any records.

He was planning on having Lumine accompany him at first since she knew him, but she was nowhere to be seen in Inazuma. Unfortunate...

"𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵... It says here that Shikanoin Heizou was sighted somewhere in Watatsumi Island, Lu. Slacking as usual, most likely..." Bad blood aye?

"Frowning doesn't suit you at all, Sara... Loosen up. From what I've read, his records are astounding at least." Lu patted the tengu on the shoulder.

"I guess so..." Sighed, Sara.

"You've done good at pinpointing his location. Now leave it to me~." The last thing she saw was a reassuring smile by the deity before they drifted to another place.

***

"Yo, Heiz-

"Shikanoin Heizou, you are in the presence of His Majesty!" Classic Sara.

"What she said." Lu only gave the bewildered detective a wry smile.

"What an honor~. Is there anything you need from me, Your Majesty?" A unique dark reddish-purplish hair and a free attitude. Not to mention the anemo vision he has.

The guy before him was definitely the young prodigy of the doushins, Shikanoin Heizou. To put it simply, a renown detective of the Shogunate.

"First and foremost, how about conversing over tea? And Sara, may I talk with him privately please?" Lu suggested as he put down two sets of table furniture.

"As you wish, Your Majesty." Sara went to the farther one, but not until signaling the young man to behave with a strict look.

...

"Have a seat, young Heizou." Lu said with his usual smile.

"I am thankful, Your Majesty." Heizou accepted while remaining completely calm. He might be nervous, just slightly nervous... but he's more curious on why their deity sought him out.

Lu readied a cup of tea for the two of them, before taking a seat himself. Then the two only stared at each other for a while...

"Hahaha! To think I would find someone like me in this world. Do accept my friendship, Heizou." The deity started the conversation with a hearty laugh.

"Phew! I was sweating a bit there, Lu... You should teach the general a thing or two, else she would have that frown for the rest of her life." Heizou replied with a grin in response.

"We were having a lively chat earlier, you know? It's not my fault that you seemed to have struck a nerve in her." Lu simply scratched her cheeks.

"You spoke the truth, Lu. Sigh*... Anyway, a job for me perhaps? I can't imagine that you would look for me for a simple chat."

"Straightforward, I see... Then I'll be blunt. The Yashiro Commisioner gave me a list of the inner workings of the Shogunate. I want you to investigate each one of them throughly, and carefully." Lu offered.

"Interesting... But I doubt I can cover all of it by myself." A reasonable worry.

"Kamisato Ayato's spies will coordinate with you, and maybe I'll even ask the Guuji to lend you a hand. I heard from Lumine that you were interested on meeting Yae Miko. How about it?" An enticing offer, indeed.

"... Let me think about it..." Was all the young man said, before diving into deep contemplation...

***

Don't forget the powerstones! It's the easiest way for me to check how many people read the latest one.

If we reach 200 powerstones this week, I'll upload a bonus chapter by the end!