chapter 16: Beautiful

Wait, the Yuki-onna? You mean those beautiful snow yokai that live in the snowy mountains and kill whoever comes into their domain?" Takeshi asked as he wanted to confirm it.

"You're mostly correct. However, the true appereance of a Yuki-onna is actually the gorilla you fought. It is true that they appear as young woman, but only when they are at a young stage. Once they mature, they change into an beast-like appearance." Kiyome explained to him as she gestured to the now known Yuki-onna before them.

Takeshi turned to the Yuki-onna, who was still sound asleep, with an owlish look. After blinking a few times, his body slumped. "...Huh. That sure breaks a lot of common views about them as beautiful snow woman." Takeshi commented.

"You're taking this a lot well than others do." Kiyome commented with a raised eyebrow. He simply shrugged.

"Well, I see Yuki-onna as dangerous monsters to begin with. They do pretty horrible things to the travelers in the mountains. Why on earth would I be attracted to a yokai that wants to kill people? At the very least, seeing this Yuki-Onna in this form actually relieves me. I don't have to worry about getting seduced." Takeshi said while chuckling at the thought, which also made Kiyome laugh at the thought at as well.

However, it was then Takeshi realized something as he turned to his childhood friend with a puzzled look.

"Wait, hold on then. There is something that I'm missing here. If you're a monster tamer, then why did the Yuki-Onna attack you? Did you fail in trying to tame it?" Takeshi asked, making Kiyome huff indigently at him as if he insulted her pride.

"Hmph. You underestimate my skills in taming monsters Takeshi-kun." Kiyome said as she folded her arms, unknowingly letting her bust rise because of it. She then sighed as she gave off a look of understanding. "Well, I suppose you deserve an explanation."

She then looked him straight in the eye.

"Well, I was originally going to reveal myself to you normally as a Beast Tamer normally. I was going to call you here and reveal one of my monsters to you and introduce myself as a Beast Tamer." Kiyome explained, making Takeshi blink at this.

"Really?" Takeshi asked with a perplexed tone. Kiyome nodded at him.

"However, I've decided to change a few things. First being is that although you have been keeping a secret of being a Magician, which is acceptable since we didn't know each other truly, you always kept on keeping me in the dark and get me worried for nothing. Every time I ask you, you always give vague answers. It always leads me to think you're doing uncivilized activities." Kiyome explained as she held up one finger.

"Can't argue there." Takeshi admitted.

"Second, you sometimes keep yourself distant away from me some times. I figured that you were busy in your studies of being a Magician, but it is no excuse to give effort in spending more time with me." Kiyome pointed out while holding up a second finger. This made Takeshi flinch.

"I-I'm sorry. I probably wasn't a good friend because of that." Takeshi apologized.

"You are forgiven. Besides, I too was busy with my Beast Tamer training, so you aren't the only one to blame in this." Kiyome said with understanding.

"Right, the whole family business thing." Takeshi said while scratching the back of his head, before he gave her a curious look. "Wait, what do any of these reasons have to do with-"

"I was about to finish." Kiyome cut him off, this time tone sounding serous, before she gave a serious look towards Takeshi. "There is the third and final reason for this. You see Takeshi-kun, I pretended to to be held captive by my Yuki-Onna and trick you into thinking I'm in danger is for one important reason." Kiyome said.

"A-And what would that be?" Takeshi asked, getting a bit off put by the serious air from her.

It was then she gave out a full blown glare.

"It is the fact that you keep holding that shameful incident over me for years!" Kiyome exclaimed while her face was going a bit red because of the anger within her.

"H-Huh!?" Takeshi looked surprised upon her final reasoning while backing a bit away from her.

"You heard me! For so many years, you've kept on teasing me relentless about about that incident and I can't stand it!" Kiyome told him heatedly. "At the very least, I considered this payback for you holding it over my head!"

"To be honest, that incident was quite memorable between the two of us." Takeshi blurted out.

"Silence!" Kiyome told him heatedly. "See what I mean!? You may find it funny, but I find it quite shameful!" Kiyome exclaimed, before she huffed and folded her arms.

"It may sound immature of me, but this is the least I could to if I wanted payback from you." Kiyome told him, making Takeshi frown at her.

"I'm sorry Kiyome-chan. I didn't realize that incident and my teasings were that unbearable to you." Takeshi apologized once more, before he shook his head. "But not only that, but please don't do something like that Kiyome-chan. You had me worried sick about you when I thought the Yuki-Onna attack you." Takeshi told her with concern.

Kiyome's cheeks went pink a bit when she heard his last sentence, before she shook her head and sighed.

"I suppose my prank has gone a bit too far. But promise me that you won't keep teasing me over that incident any more." Kiyome told him.

"I promise." Takeshi said while raising up his hand in a lazy manner.

"Good. Now then, since we now who we are now, we're going to have to be more honest with each other, alright? No more hiding your Magician Powers, just as I will not hide me being a Beast Tamer." Kiyome told him power.