Chapter 10: Look Who Decided to Show Up

[Miko's POV]

Me and my group are now standing in front of the mob of visitors at the entrance gate of the shrine.

There's the Sanjouno family that I really hate, it seems that they didn't bring Haruhime-san with them. They really do lock her up room, so frustrating.

Then there are also other families that I don't know. There are humans with black hairs and they wear fancy and colorful robes and others that look like midgets.

And finally, we have the man that haunted my childhood because of his failure and drunkness. The man that beaten me and my mother because of the humiliation he got from the royal court. The man has brown hair, large fox ears and one fluffy tail. He has slanted purple eyes that looks always serious. He wears a dark brown robe that is opened on the chest area, revealing a muscular build. He also has long and worn-out sword strapped to his waist.

He approaches me and we look each other in the eye.

"Why are you here... father?"

"I am taking you back home"

"Hoh? What if I don't want to?"

"Then I'll forced you to come"

"Like how you used force to beat me and mother up?!"

My father froze after I said but returned to his stoic and stubborn expression

He then grabbed me arm and dragged away from the group

"HEY! Let me go! I said I don't want to go!"

I tried to break free from his oppressive grasp but he firmly gripped my arm

But then, Takemikazuchi-sama grabbed my father's arm

He was surprised by the strength of a god, he looked at Takemikazuchi-sama in the eye

"Hakuro-san, is that the proper way to convince your own daughter to come with you?" He said with a smile in his face, however, he looks somewhat annoyed by my father's behavior.

My father was frightened by Takemikazuchi-sama and he let go of his grip from my arm. Takemikazuchi-sama also let go of my father and he stand in front of me, facing at my father.

"You, why didn't you return my daughter to me?" Father asked in a stern tone

"We don't trust you"

"What?"

"After Miko told us how you abused her in the past, we didn't take it lightly and we want her to stay us from now on"

"Is that so, Takemikazuchi-san? What do you think the Royal Court will do if we told them that the Takemikazuchi family stole the daughter of a Royal Court executive swordsman, hmm?" says the leader of the Sanjouno Family, Haruhime's father.

He looked the scene with great interest, planned to report Takemikazuchi-sama and the others if they didn't return me to my father. Shet, I hate this man so much.

"Tsk, do you nobles have any idea how this girl had suffered from her father, don't you?" Takemikazuchi-sama is getting pissed by the renard's threats.

"Her circumstance about her father is none of our concern, we are just returning this girl to her home, that's all"

"You bastards" veins popped out of Takemikazuchi-sama's head and he is about to walk towards, but Tsuyukomi-sama grabbed his hand and stopped him

"Sanjouno-san, can you at least respect Miko's decision to stay here?" Tsuyukomi-sama pleads to the Sanjouno leader.

"Oh, do you think Amaterasu-sama will take you kindly if she found out that you kidnapped the Yae's daughter?"

"We didn't kidnap her! We just nursed her back to health after we saved her from drowning"

"Then why didn't you return her to her family after you save her, hmm?" The renard leader shrewdly asked. Tsukuyomi-sama was taken aback and had nothing to say to refute that.

The children on the back were both angry and afraid, Takemikazuchi-sama is visibly angry right now and Tsukuyomi-sama is conflicted to what should she do.

I closed my eyes and think for a bit. Then I opened it and I take a stand.

"Fine, I will go"

Takemikazuchi-sama was shocked, no, everyone from group was shocked from my decision

"See, was it that har-"

"BUT! I have a condition, no, three condition" I cut Sanjouno-san mid-sentence and he was irritated by my sudden remarks

"What are those conditions then"

"First condition, I am allowed to come and go to the shrine whenever I want. Second condition, I can take a visit to Haruhime-san's room whenever I want. Finally, third condition, I can go anywhere in the Royal Court whenever I want"

Everyone was taken aback from the conditions I had just said. Well, everyone except the Sanjouno leader who is red to the face and visible veins popping on his head.

"YOU! KNOW YOUR PLACE, BRAT! YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS TO SAY SUCH OUTRAGEOUS CONDITIONS!!" He yelled at me as he frantically points his finger at me

"Oho? Outrageous you say? I think these three conditions are quite simple and reasonable to me" I smugly said as I waved three fingers at him. Because of that he becomes more furious at me.

"Everyone?! Do you think you will accept this brat's unacceptable crude conditions?!" He then turned around and asked his companions to back him up. The people look conflicted if they want to accept or deny those conditions

"I think it is fairly reasonable if you ask me" A voice can be heard within the crowd that agreed to my conditions. The crowd splits and revealed a small but elegant girl. She is a human with black hair, red robe and a yellow overcoat. She has a calm and gentle expression that can warm anyone's heart when looked at her appearance.

"Kaguya-sama?! How could you accept her conditions?!" the renard leader blurted out to the little girl

"I mean, there is nothing wrong to move around in the Royal Court if you wish to, I mean you are not his father. So, you have no rights to decide on what to do with her" the girl explained herself to him. The other people understood her reasoning and decided to agree with my conditions.

Then renard leader look at my father and ask for his backing.

"Hakuro-sama, please tell your daughter to stop her nonsense!!" He pleaded to my father for him to deny these conditions.

"My daughter's decision is none of your concern, Sanjouno-san. I only want to bring my daughter back to me" My father denied his plead, making the renard to explode in fury.

"So~ What do you think, Sanjouni-san~? Everyone seems to agree with those conditions~ Will you finally accept my conditions?" I mockingly said to the furious renard

His whole face is painted in red due to overwhelming anger. However, he finally gives in.

"Fine! Don't you think you can outsmart me next time, brat" the renard leader turned his back from me and angrily walks back to his crowd

"Oh, I think I will~" I cheekily replied to his threat

He angrily looks back but decided to ignore my provocation and leave.

The crowd followed him but the girl looks at me and takes a bow at me, I bowed as well as thanks for convincing the crowd to accept the conditions.

My father is also about to leave but turns around to look at me not following him

"What are you waiting for, Miko?" He asked me because I'm still standing within my group.

"Father, can I at least say goodbye to my companions?" I asked my father a favor

"Sure, I will wait" He accepted my favor and stands by the entrance gate to wait for me.

I turned around and faced my companions. They looked at me with concern and sad expression

"Don't look at me like that, guys. I can visit you guys anytime to play" I reassured them

"But Miko, are you sure you can handle yourself in there?" Tsukuyomi-sama worriedly asks

"It's okay Tsukuyomi-sama, at least I have my memories back before I leave"

"I see, I respect your decision" She nodded and backs away

Takemikazuchi-sama approaches me and he brings out the upgraded Kagura Suzu and Gohei I had

"Here, take these with you"

"But Takemikazuchi-sama, these are the sacred tools of the shrine. I can't bring this with me" I panic as I tried to refuse the offer. However, he grabbed my hands and made me hold the two sacred tools.

"It's okay Miko, these tools are now bound to the two souls that was once in your body. Plus, you can look to the memories of the soul without the risk of colliding with your soul" He explained the necessity of these tools. I was reluctant but I nodded in understanding and stored the tools inside my tails.

"Here, Miko-san. You almost forget to bring these books with you" Yamto-san said as she hands out the novel gifted to me.

"Thank you Yamato-san. Everyone, I will be off now"

"Yeah, come back to play with us, okay?"

"Umu" I nodded in confirmation

I turned around and walk to where my father is and walk to the direction of the Royal Court