Chapter 37: An Unexpected Involvement

"What the hell, you guys are already done?"

Yato said as he returned after helping the injured. It can be seen that his mask is finally hanging around his waist. He then taps Kiyoto in the shoulders and whispers something in his ears:

"Back off for now, let me handle the questions."

As Kiyoto turns around, he can see Toshihiro and the priestess back then approaching them. As per Yato instructed, he backed off a bit and does not plan to answer unless asked. He'll let Yato do the talking.

"Not only do you get to see needless violence, but also help extinguish it, I am ashamed as one of this Sacred Land's Kannushi. My name is Toshihiro Sasaki, with all the years I have spent as the guardian of this land, this is the first time we are faced with such violence. Let me express my gratitude for both driving the enemy and tending to the injured."

Toshihiro and the Priestess bowed towards them as a sign of their gratitude.

Yato shakes his head along with his hands, like someone who is denying something.

"Oh no, please raise your head respected Kannushi. We did what everyone could have done in that certain situation, since we have the means to help."

"Mhm. Noblesse Oblige, I am seeing the two of you now with utmost respect. I hope that your virtuous actions will bring you and the others around you prosperity. May the sakura leaves guide you." Toshihiro clasps his hands and closes his eyes like he was about to pray.

"....."

After hearing his last remark, Kiyoto cannot help but ponder as to what is the real meaning of those words. Should he take it literally, or dig deep to find its meaning.

Toshihiro then turns towards the destruction that the battle caused and assumes a thinking pose. Seeing this, Yato asked:

"Respected Kannushi, is something bothering you?"

"Haha, I would just like you to call me Toshi, but I guess we need that for tradition. As for your inquiry, hm…what do you make of this incident dear envoy?"

Yato then starts to think of something, resting his finger below his chin. He then gave him an answer:

"I think…the aim of this is to drive the attention of the people in this area in particular. They're buying time for something."

Toshihiro sighs.

"You and I, we thought of the same thing. The Temples of this land are heavily guarded, or should I say equipped with the most powerful charms. Even if other of our fighters turn their attention here, the opposition could only hope to enter the Temple with a massive group to stand a chance."

"I see. And does it already dawn to you that, what if they indeed have those numbers?"

Yato replied with an inquiry.

"If they do then we could have already pinpointed their location and not play this cat and mice game anymore."

Yato squints his eyes upon hearing this.

"Then this case was already being handled a long time ago."

"Hm? Ahh."

Toshihiro turns around to face them once again. He then chuckled in a friendly way.

"Haha, you got me there dear envoy. You know how to run a conversation."

"Hehe I don't know what you mean Respected Kannushi."

Yato feigned ignorance. So in-character of him to do.

"Well since I've already slipped something, I'll gladly fill you in some more details. But, I am a busy man for the day. Meet me again in the evening here, I'll recommend some nice places to visit as well."

"Ah. Alright, if that's what you want, Respected Kannushi."

Yato was nodding while trying not to show his face of disappointment. He thought he could gain some information right now.

Toshihiro then sees them off with a smile.

"Ahh man what a shame. Though with a character like his, he will surely keep his end of the bargain." Yato surmised.

"We have nothing to bargain with him though…"

Kiyoto stated.

"Our assistance was our bargain, okay? And he offered the details freely, so we'll take it without question."

"Yeah…alright, if you say so."

As usual, Kiyoto would just go with the flow.

As they were on their way back to the lodge, they noticed Akafuyu and Mylene running towards them.

"Kiyoto! Yato! What happened there? The people seemed to recognize me and thus they stopped me from getting involved."

"We ran into some kind of invader. I'm not really sure what that person's up to, but I think they got what they wanted for now."

Yato briefly summarizes his thoughts.

"An invader here in Hokkiji? And you know what they want?" Mylene asked, confused about the situation.

"In Yamanashi to be precise, we've been walking for some time after all. Also, not that I know their end game, I just know that they're buying time at that moment."

"That means the main focus of their work is entirely somewhere else?" Kiyoto then asks his question.

"I think so. Since the event transpired in Yamanashi where the Jissoji Temple resides, maybe the real aim would be here in Hokkiji."

Yato looks around to see if someone was spying on them.

Mylene sighs.

"Who would be brute enough to destroy the properties of what is known as a Sacred Land. And to think they would pick a day where spring will come soon…"

Akafuyu can be seen pondering about something. She then looks at Kiyoto.

"This looks like something we need to get involved with. The timing is just too coincidental to take place as soon as we arrived. Though we need to move in secrecy."

"E-eh? Wait up, we're here on a vacation rig- I mean, to erm…guide Kiyoto about some things that he didn't know about the land, yeah…"

Mylene has been struggling to take her words out of her mouth.

"But we can't leave things as they are, it could become worse. And in order to have a peaceful Cherry Blossom viewing with everyone, this needs to be settled as soon as possible."

Akafuyu told Mylene.

"Well, I can't really argue with that. You're also just curious aren't you..?"

Mylene replied.

"W-well, yeah. Since my instincts are telling me that Kiyoto is involved somehow-"

"Huh?"

Kiyoto reacted.

"I-I said it's just my instincts okay? If it turns out that you need to be involved because of that dream, then I want to have a part in it…"

Akafuyu told Kiyoto directly.

"....."

"....."

Yato and Mylene looked at Akafuyu with their eyes widened but their expressions are what you can perceive as shocked, since their jaws are almost dropping to the floor.

After all, Akafuyu is someone who doesn't know if she's being too direct about her feelings to someone. Since what she just said is another indirect approach of telling someone that you want to be a part of their life.

Yato whispered to Mylene.

"Hey. What happened when I wasn't around?"

"I don't want to be the storyteller in this…"

Kiyoto on the other hand went speechless for a while. He scratched the back of his head, though after noticing that Akafuyu seems to be unaware that she blurted out quite a confession, he surfed the topic away.

"Uh, well then. I guess we're getting involved. But I honestly don't know how to proceed…"

Kiyoto looked down.

Yato then tapped his shoulder and pointed to himself.

"Leave the planning to me. We'll start after we gather some information from our appointment with Toshi later."

"Hm? Toshi?"

Mylene and Akafuyu asked in unison.

Yato then explained everything as he described to them all the people involved in the recent incident.

"Nice going, Yato, but don't push it too hard. This Toshi might be laying down some plans of his own, I rather not believe it but…I think there's also an inside man."

Akafuyu theorized.

Yato nodded as if he was already expecting it.

"That's accounted for, Lord Akafuyu. They won't risk invading this land after all without enough information, and well, you see, I have heard some things before the three of you arrived."

"Oh, like what?"

Mylene inquired.

"Well, his name just popped out of nowhere while I'm eavesdropping. But it seems like he got something to do with what's going to happen soon."

"And who are you talking about?"

Akafuyu inquisitively asked.

"The Ninth Herald, Kirisame Magnolia."