Chapter 31

My eyes snap open as three strong presences all of a sudden ping to my senses.

Of the three, I only recognize the one, Suzaku.

But the other two? Completely foreign.

Interesting.

Also, very bad timing, fire birb.

I lift my head slightly, looking between the white and black-haired cat girls nuzzled into either of my sides.

Sorry, correction, the very naked cat girls nuzzled into my sides, with my hands placed firmly on their waists, oh so close to the plush booty I've been balls deep in for…

Huh. I'm honestly not too sure how long we went at it.

Right now though, as a quick look outside at the falling sun suggests, it's late evening.

Regardless, I am very tempted to grab both their asses, rouse Nori Junior from his slumber, and keep going.

Especially Koneko. She deserves some proper exclusive one-on-one time eventually.

But besides the fact that both girls are currently out, peacefully sleeping and purring so adorably that I legitimately don't want to wake them up?

The new visitors.

I really should get up.

But I don't wanna.

Fuck that makes me sound like a baby, but, come on, it's cat-girl body pillows!

Still, duty calls, or at least I think this is duty related.

Judging by the strength I can sense, the two with her aren't mooks, or handmaidens for her, or something similar of the sort.

Hmm, partial Team Slash/Dog meeting time perhaps? But why?

Only one way to find out I guess.

With a low, and I'll admit, whiney sigh, I extract myself from between the two cat girls with careful ease.

I give the two scratches behind the ears, smiling as they both grin all dopey-like, before grabbing my robe and carefully floating out of the room.

Don't want to risk my heavy footsteps waking them up after all.

I haphazardly throw on my robe as I float lazily to my front door, making myself look somewhat presentable.

Truly, I had half a mind to open the door naked, just for the laughs.

Probably would if only Suzaku had shown up unannounced, but as she did bring others, I suppose I'll be mindful of first impressions with them.

The three seemed to be waiting right outside, likely Suzaku sensed my coming, so not even a knock was required.

So, without further ado and much reason to keep them waiting, I adopt a half-lidded stare, one more tired than annoyed, before sliding open the door.

Standing almost directly in front of me was Suzaku, with her arms crossed under her chest, her own half-lidded stare clashing against mine.

I'm not entirely too sure why she looked so annoyed, but it made me immediately flip from tired to smug, a small smile forming across my face as I locked eyes with her.

Kuroka is a terrible influence, eh?

"Well now, good evening to you, Suza-chan!" My smile grew as her eye twitched, "To what do I owe the pleasure of such a sudden visit so late in the day?"

Suzaku took a moment, breathing out lightly before responding, "Lord Noriaki," she stressed, "I've been trying to reach you all day, but you haven't been answering your phone. What have you been doing?"

My phone?

Oh yeah, I turned that off right before trying the thing with Kuroka.

Then Koneko came over, and I never…turned it back on.

Huh. Well, shit.

Still though. My mouth spoke words before my brain could seriously think about what I was saying.

"Catgirls." I answered automatically, although nonetheless very seriously.

Suzaku blinked. Several times in fact, as she simply stared at me, befuddled.

Although she certainly didn't give much of a reaction, the two behind her certainly did.

"Hmm, hmm…catgirls, eh?"

My eyes drifted to the source of the male voice as it hummed in approval.

Prompting me to blink, as I behold a guy who looked like he had never grown out of his delinquent phase from high school, standing behind and to Suzaku's left.

Dyed, spiked-up brown hair, fierce storm gray eyes, even the school uniform, all that's missing is the bat.

Good thing he makes up for it with the actual white cat just kind of sitting there on his shoulder.

As soon as my eyes land on him, he smirks and gives me a thumbs-up.

I manage to push past the dissociation I feel at that exact moment to shoot him a thumbs-up back.

"Eh?" Another voice, feminine, chips up in confusion, "What's that all supposed to mean?"

Standing right next to the delinquent guy is the source, a young woman in a uniform similar to the guys, but with light brown eyes and light brown hair tied at the back of her head.

She's rather cute, I'd say, especially since she legitimately doesn't seem to get the joke.

Fortunately, her friend was here to give her a little help.

The delinquent snorted, "Oi. Birdbrain," he huffs out, amused and smirking, "it means our little Kami guy here fucked a couple or more catgirls. Not that hard to grasp."

Kami guy? That's new.

The girl meanwhile, took a second to process what she heard before she too blinked, putting a hand to her mouth.

"Oh." She muttered, yet without an iota of a blush.

Most impressive.

The delinquent chuckled, "Oh indeed…"

You know, looking at these two, I do recognize them somewhat.

They are part of Team Slash/Dog, that much I'm certain, but I'm drawing a blank on pretty much everything about these two.

For the guy, I keep thinking 'cat drill' for some reason.

Then the girl, I keep wanting to call her 'Irina lite' in my mind.

Yet before I could delve too deep into those thoughts, or before the guy's unique nickname for Irina lite over there could prompt her to do other Irina things like start a fight, Suzaku managed to bring the attention back to herself with a single sigh.

"As…interesting," her smile strained at that, "as that information is to know, we've come here today for something very important, Lord Noriaki."

As Suzaku started talking, the other two suddenly straightened up, looking much more serious.

"Tell us," she continued, gaze hardening, "what do you know of Lord Susanoo and the Realm of Yomi?"

I stare at her for a moment, before letting out a deep, anguished, sigh, before I ask.

"What did my Uncle do…this time."

~ A New Sun ~

Deciding it was probably for the best of everyone present if we sat down first, I ended up inviting everyone in.

Unfortunately, I don't exactly have an informal sitting area as of yet, which led to…this.

Us all sitting on a tatami mat floor, with the new girl looking around in wonder, stars in her eyes.

"It's all so…traditional…" she muttered in legitimate awe.

Even the delinquent looked around in appreciation.

Despite this room being wholly empty, with literally nothing inside of it.

I think, after these three leave, I'm sending a clone to go shopping personally.

Uzume was supposed to do it, but she's taking too long, and I'm getting sick of this.

Only Suzaku didn't seem to care about the architecture either way, staring at me with an intensity I didn't think was possible for her.

"Before we begin," Suzaku piped up before I could say anything, "proper introductions first. Lord Noriaki? These two are Slash/Dog Team members," she held her hand out to the girl, "Natsume Minagawa."

Natsume, promptly, gave an exaggerated wave my way as she greeted, "Haiya! Lord Kusanagi!"

Heh. Cute.

Suzaku sighed, before moving her hand towards the delinquent, "And Kouki Samejina."

Kouki held a hand up, as did the cat perched on his shoulder, as he simply said, "Yo."

I nodded to them both, "Noriaki Kusanagi, though I feel the two of you already know who I am." I returned in greeting with a smile, "Still, you don't need to call me by my last name, or lord, or whatever. I'm not so formal, and I don't exactly consider myself a deity either."

Natsume's eyes practically sparkled, "Ho? Really? I'll call you Nori then!"

I smirked, "Only if I can call you Nat?"

She gave an exaggerated nod and a thumbs up, "Sure thing! Waaayy better nickname than what this cat-brained guy gave me…" she stuck a finger at Kouki.

Who snorts in turn, "Stop copying me because you lack creativity, birdbrain." He admonished without even glancing at her.

"And I told you!" She whirls on him, "To stop calling me that! Years ago!"

Kouki merely shrugs, unperturbed, "If it fits, why change it?"

"T-That's not the point you damn delinquent! I've changed!" She denies it, vehemently.

Watching these two start going at it, I chuckle.

Reminds me of Irina and Xenovia a bit, Nat especially reminds me of Irina, she's got that pep.

While Kouki? By the way he looks, I kind of expected another Vali type of guy, but he seems incredibly chill.

"You two." Suzaku interjects coldly before Kouki could respond, bringing me out of my thoughts, "Now is not the time."

"Ah," Nat rubs the back of her head, "right, right…sorry, Lady Himejima."

Kouki grunted, "Right. Can't get distracted now." He starts…crawling closer to me? Going past Suzaku, he mutters, "No offense, Himejima, but I'll take it from here."

Suzaku blinks, looking just as confused as I am.

Kouki gets right in front of me, with barely a few feet between us…

Before promptly slamming his head into the ground in a kowtow for the ages.

"K-Kouki!?" Nat exclaimed, "What are you…?"

"We need your help." Kouki began, muffled by the floor.

I uh, don't think he knows how a proper kowtow works, does he?

Yet still, the man continued, "Your uncle, he sent someone after Tobio…our leader, next thing we know, he's gone. We don't know where he went, we have our suspicions, but…"

"We've got nothing to go off of." Nat chimed in, downtrodden, "He just…up and vanished…"

Poor girl sounds like she's going to cry.

I blinked between the two, before pinching the bridge between my nose and sighing.

"I'm…going to need more than that." I start, "For one, how do you know my uncle is involved somehow?"

"There were traces of…taint," Suzaku spat out, "from Yomi left behind at the bar, right after Tobio vanished. Only a few beings could leave such a mark behind, the Shinigami being the most apparent."

Curious.

"I don't know much about the Dog God personally," I muse, "but I do know of his strength. Whatever went down, he came willingly. It would take nothing short of my Uncle himself showing up to take him by force otherwise."

"That's the same conclusion we came to as well…" Suzaku muttered.

"But! Still! It just doesn't make any sense!" Nat suddenly cried out, "H-He didn't even say anything to any of us! N-Not even Sae, I just…" she trails off into silence, a distant pained look in her eyes.

I want to pat her on the head and tell her it'll be alright.

Truly, I do, but I'm just as lost as them right now, and I don't want to plant false hope in case I'm wrong.

Rather, I shot her a soft smile, before looking back at Suzaku, "So that's why you wanted to know about Susanoo and Yomi specifically, huh?"

She nods, and I rub my chin as I ponder that question.

"How much do you know already?" I ask idly.

Kouki huffs, "That he doesn't like us all that much, never has."

"Yeah!" Nat pipes up, pumping her fist in the air, "He was the only Japanese God to vehemently refuse to bless us after we cleaned up the Utsusemi!"

I tilt my head slightly to that, "...that wasn't really what I was talking about, but that does point to him being the more likely cause of all this." I look down at Kouki, "Also, Samejima, you can get up now, okay? That's starting to look like it hurts."

He promptly groans as he sits up, "Yeah, damn…it did…thanks." He, and his cat, reach back and start rubbing his back.

I waved him off, "No problem. What I was talking about, is his myths. You know, like the stuff where he gets thrown out of Heaven for being a big crybaby, where he makes my mother hide in a cave…that stuff."

Suzaku pursed her lips, "I…don't see how his past is relevant?"

"Because it shapes what he does today. For instance," I start chuckling, "d-did you know? My uncle is a massive momma's boy."

Don't even need Uzume to tell me that much.

In damn near every variation of his myths, he's trying to reach Yomi explicitly to be with his mother.

Hell, he got thrown out originally by his father because he wouldn't stop crying over her death.

Literally. The man almost flooded Japan.

But, although it's funny, that's not why I bring it up.

My three guests blinked at that, seemingly not catching on quite yet.

Nat spoke up first, "What…does any of that have to do with Tobio?"

I raise a finger, smirking slightly, "Simple. Does he have anything that connects him to Izanami?"

"No? Why would he?" Kouki frowned, "Well, they both manipulate darkness to an extent I guess, right? Maybe he got jealous?"

I could see that happening, funnily enough. Deities aren't exactly known for their humility, especially Susanoo.

But, no.

"The Ame-no-Ohabari…" Suzaku muttered lowly in absolute horror, her eyes wide as I nodded.

There it is.

"Eh? Do you mean the divine sword that's part of his Sacred Gear? The fire one?" Kouki asked, incredulously.

"The same sword that killed Kagustuchi," I add in, "after he in turn killed Izanami during his birth."

At that, the other two simply stared, their eyes widening as the idea set in.

Kouki was the first to emerge from the slump and break the silence, with a growl.

"That…bastard." He rose to his feet, gritting his feet as his cat hissed atop his shoulder to the sky, "He's after Tobio's sword, huh? Well! I ain't about to let some momma's boy 'god' take it from him! Birdbrain!" Kouki called, snapping Nat out of the distant look in her eyes, making her look at him, "Let's get the others. Break into the Underworld, and get him back."

"Ah…" Nat's expression morphed, hardening, "Yeah. Let's."

Suzaku however, stayed stock still, "You two, don't move, quite yet."

"Wha?" Kouki turned to Suzaku, "Why the hell not!? Don't you want to help?"

Suzaku clicked her tongue, "I do. But you need to think before you act, Samejima."

He snarled at that, "We have been thinking! We thought enough! The time for thinking is long over!"

"Removing such an integral part of his Sacred Gear should kill him." Suzaku states, unmoving as she stares at the ground, "It would break his gear. Mutilate his soul. Knowing that, why did he go without a fight!?" Her hands clench the hem of her Shrine Maiden skirt tightly as her voice shakes with rage.

That question, that proclamation, makes Kouki stop and stare for a second.

I decided to chime in here, "Most likely? I think my uncle forced his compliance. I don't mean to be rude, but from what I heard, the Dog God is kind of your…well. He's a standard light novel protagonist, ain't he?"

Suzaku leveled her near-death glare at me for a second, before I corrected myself.

"Sorry. Standard harem light novel protagonist."

That made both Suzaku and Nat blush mutedly, and look away.

While Kouki simply snorted, "Shit. Can't even be mad about that assessment, it's right on the money."

I nod to that, "See? So like I was saying, taking that into account, it's likely my 'dear' uncle threatened the people closest to him to get him to comply. Friends and family. You guys, most likely."

Kouki snorted and rolled his eyes at that, "I doubt that much. We can handle ourselves just fine, and if he did go willingly cause' of a few threats to us, I'll rip that stupid sword out of him myself."

Nat nods vehemently in agreement with his words, while Suzaku simply huffs haughtily.

I shrug to them, "Well, does he have any family I don't know about?"

Nat looks down and mutters, "None alive…"

I raise an eyebrow to that, "My uncle is the King of Yomi, dead or alive…shouldn't be all that much of a barrier for him."

"She shouldn't have gone to the Japanese afterlife," Suzaku spoke up in denial, "his grandmother practiced Buddhist Magic. The claim to her soul should go to them."

I hum to that, "Fair enough, I still say it shouldn't be discounted as a possibility though. My uncle…he's known in part for the chaos he brings."

"Ah~…That's one way of putting it, I suppose." Another feminine voice adds with a yawn.

Turning, I stare half-lidded as Uzume enters the room, rubbing her eyes, and wearing…pajamas.

More specifically, a onesie? Cute. Even has a little hood.

"Taking a nap, huh Uzume?" I muse.

"Well, I was…but, then I felt–"

Uzume was cut off, as Nat suddenly rocketed herself straight into the Kami.

"Uzuumeee-chan!" Nat cried, snuggling into my maid.

Uzume suddenly seemed very self-conscious, as she reached down gently and patted Nat on the head with an awkward smile on her face, "There there, there there…" she softly muttered down at the girl.

Suzaku stared blankly at the scene before her, looking like she went into shock.

Ah, damn. There goes my trolling opportunity. Still, the look on her face is superb.

I and Kouki watched this scene unfold in amusement for a little while before I eventually asked the obvious.

"You two know each other?"

"Ah," Uzume chuckled lightly, "in the past, for all Team Slash/Dog did in Japan, Ama decided to gift them with our blessings, and I chose to bless Natsume, here."

Oh, Nat. You poor girl.

"Eh? Nori-kun? W-What's with that look!?" Uzume suddenly added, almost panicked.

I quickly wipe the Tanjiro pity look off my face, returning to a neutral expression.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I state plainly.

"T-That…!"

Luckily, Uzume is saved from being outed by Suzaku, as she suddenly asks, voice breaking slightly, "What...what is the Goddess of the Dawn doing here…?"

Uzume quickly looks at me, pleading with her eyes alone.

I meet her gaze, then slowly draw my eyes across the very empty room.

The next time I meet her gaze, my stare is narrowed significantly, and her eyes have in turn widened in realization.

So, I answer honestly.

"She's my maid."

Suzaku stares dead ahead, not saying a word.

Kouki raises an eyebrow.

Nat blinks a few times, before finally letting Uzume go, and looking up at her with a tilt to her head, "Eh? Uzume-chan? I didn't know you were into that!"

Uzume looks like she wants to commit die.

"It's…not that," I snort, causing Uzume to wave her hands out in denial, "really! Ama gave me this job! Socanwegobacktowhateveritwasyouallweretalkingaboutbeforepleaseandthanks!"

Pin drop silence.

"Uzume," I started, an amused smile on my lips, "What was that?"

She slowly pulled her pajama hood up over her head, and looked down, "...you were all talking about Susanoo?"

"Yeah," I chuckled a bit, "we were. Kind of. Nat, care to fill your blesser in on what's going on?"

Ah, Uzume. Always there to break the tension and cast downtrodden moods into the abyss.

Sometimes via sexy dancing. Sometimes via being, well, her.

In any case, Uzume listens in as Nat gives an abridged version of what's going on.

Following that, she gives a thoughtful frown.

"Ama…really isn't going to like hearing about any of this," she sighs, closing her eyes and clicking her tongue in annoyance, "seriously, that brain-dead oaf, right after they join us!?"

"Better to get this out of the way now than have to suddenly deal with this later, I feel." I add with a raise of my finger.

"I mean, maybe…" Uzume bites her lip, "Still, what a mess. Especially if he did take a soul from another afterlife to use as bait, pretty sure that violates so many laws it's not even funny."

"Even if whatever passes for law enforcement down there jumps mommy's boy?" Kouki asks with a smirk.

Uzume thinks for a second, before snorting, "Okay, it would be funny to watch Hades beat the storm out of him, but still."

"Heh!" Kouki chuckled, "Well, I don't want to sit around her and wait for some Greek to do our job for us. I still say we go."

Suzaku pinched the bridge of her nose, and sighed, "Samejima, we just talked about this…"

Uzume blinked, and tilted her head at that, "You wouldn't be able to, anyway." She adds matter-of-factly.

The three look at her, eyes wide, before voicing all at once.

"Eh? What the hell do you mean by that, Kami!?"

"Uzume-chan…?"

"Lady Uzume…"

"Humans, alive humans, aren't meant to exist in Yomi," Uzume elaborates, a sad glint in her eyes, "Longinus possessors like Tobio would be fine, their gear would be powerful enough to protect their living body from eroding and, well, dying."

She looks at the three intensely, "But for the rest of you? You wouldn't last long. Not without the blessing of Izanami or Susanoo himself, in any case. The former hasn't been seen in so long, and the latter? Well…you know."

Following that explanation, the three looked damn near dead to the world.

Well, Suzaku, especially. Kouki was chewing on his gums, and cracking his knuckles with a look of cold rage on his face.

While Nat? She looked down, staring at the floor despondently, "T-There…has to be a way, right, Uzume-chan?" She reaches over and grabs the Kami's pj's, "There has to be something, r-right?"

Uzume looked down at Nat, a pained, guilty look on her face.

Then, she looked over at me.

Oh yeah. I'm not necessarily human, so doesn't that mea–

"While humans can't go down and survive in Yomi, Arahitogami like Noriaki can." Uzume added slowly.

Oh. You bitch.

Almost instantly, Nat and Suzaku's gaze locked onto me.

Just as fast, however, before either of the two could get a word out, Kouki called out, "Oh yeah? How's that supposed to help?"

Nat turned to Kouki, eyes wide and slightly shaking, "K-Kouki…he could…"

"Solve the problem for us? Yeah, maybe." Kouki crossed his arms, "But I didn't come here to send some guy I just meant after our best friend." He looked down at me, "No offense, Kami guy."

I wave him off, "None taken."

"Were you not just on your knees before him, begging for help mere moments ago?" Suzaku bites out in response.

Kouki huffed, "Yeah. For help. Not for him to solve our problems for us. We're a team, not some outsourcing group." He waved to Nat, "Yo birdbrain, let's head back, tell everyone else what we found out here…we'll think of something."

He walks over to her, helping her to her feet, "We always do." He finishes resolutely.

Nat sniffles, sparing me one last glance, before nodding to Kouki, and promptly slapping herself in the face with both hands, "Y-Yeah! I guess we do! Hmm hmm!"

Kouki turns back to Suzaku, "Thanks for the ride, Himejima. We know our way back." Then he looks at me, "Thanks for the talk Kami guy, we'll give you a call once everything blows over, then you'll get to meet the team proper, aight?"

"A…ight?" I wave at them as Kouki walks off with Nat in tow, the girl giving Uzume one last big hug before exiting the front door.

Soon enough, their presences vanish into thin air, most likely via magic teleportation.

My confusion came from Suzaku sitting there motionless, not joining them the whole time.

Then, pretty much the second their presences disappear, Suzaku throws herself at my feet, in much the same way Kouki did, except her kowtow is much more…proper.

"I…need your h-help…" Suzaku began, voice breaking.

Ah…well, I was probably going to get involved one way or another.

Didn't think it would be like this, however!

~ A New Sun ~

After shooing Uzume out to spare Suzaku some embarrassment, I shuffle right up in front of the girl.

"Suzaku?" I ask, tone soft, "What are you doing?"

"I…I…k-know what you're about to say, but I'm not t-truly an official member of their team," she continues, ignoring me, "more like an honorary member. So! I beseech you, Lord Kusana- Huh…?"

I get her to pause, by reaching down and gently cupping her face into my hand, slowly making her lift her head to look me in the eye.

She's crying. Slow, tired streams.

I wipe them away with my thumb.

"You've been bottling up these emotions for a while, haven't you?" I ask, "How long exactly? Since right after Ibaraki? Did you even have time for yourself after that mess, and Baraqiel?"

"I…that…" she averts her gaze away from mine, "I don't see how that is relevant."

"Because worrying about someone you care about is one thing, but killing yourself over it…physically or mentally, is another." I scolded her.

"It isn't about me!" She bit back, yet more down then heated, "I'll be fine! But Tobio won't…I c-can't…" her head sagged down, "I promised…to keep him safe…He's some of the last good of my family left, and I…" she bit her lip as a quiet choked sob silenced her.

I raise her head back up, along with an eyebrow, "What makes you think he won't be fine?"

"He's never fought anything like this before…Susanoo, one of the strongest of the Shinto Pantheon, is said to possibly rival the Omikami in terms of power." She muttered in horror, "That isn't something you fight alone, Lord Noriaki…"

"Cut the 'lord' thing here, Suzaku." I tell her sternly, before adding, "Also. You need to have more faith in this guy."

Her eyes promptly narrowed, but I didn't let up.

"Seriously, the way you make it sound, he's some sort of damsel in distress. Not the Dog God with an Abyss Side Balance Broken Longinus wielding an actual god-killing sword." I admonished her further.

Laying it all out like that, Suzaku at least had the decency to blush.

"No, the only thing holding him back from fighting, is whatever made him come 'willingly'. Without that, he probably would have dealt with this situation on the spot." I muse.

Suzaku's eyes widened, "Y-You mean…?"

I smiled, "I was already planning on taking a look. Izanami is my grandmother, you know? I'm sure she'd be delighted to know her daughter had another grandkid, don't you thin– Hmm!?"

Suzaku interrupted me this time, by suddenly attaching to me, wrapping her arms around my torso and clinging, tightly, as she muttered seemingly unending 'thank you's at a breakneck pace.

I let out a soft chuckle as I pat her on the back, "So," I muse aloud, "does this count as a favor?"

Suzaku let out a dry chuckle as she pulled back, whipping a fresh tear from her face.

"P-Perhaps," she accedes with a small, pretty smile, "only if you manage to make him come back in one piece."

"...You know if it comes down to it, I won't be able to fight my uncle." I state for certain, "There's no sun down there, or at least I would assume there isn't, and even then…" I trail off, uncertain.

I'm not even sure about my power relative to the top of the Faction.

If Susanoo is near the top, rivaling my mother, then he'll probably slap me around like Vali did.

Even with Ara-Mitama…If I managed to pull that off. If the time even works out that way.

So many variables, and so many things that are more likely to go wrong during that potential fight.

But above all else, I don't believe I'm ready to fight a true divine being yet. Much less one so high on the totem pole.

"Then don't fight," Suzaku murmurs, "just make sure the two of you make it out alive, alright?"

That, I have a much higher chance of doing.

After I drain Uzume of everything she knows about Yomi.

Like, for instance, how to get in without being elbow-dropped by dozens of Shinigami and Susanoo himself.

But for now?

Suzaku, despite her smile, shows cracks. A tense air to her eyes, the occasional twitch of her hand…

She's still bottling up her feelings, huh?

"Hmm, alright," I nod to that, "then, for now, Suza-chan," I smirk as her eye twitches, "it's been a while, why don't you catch me up on everything else going on, and then?" I pat her on the back, "You tell me more about the guy I'm going to drag out from downstairs?"

At her smile, I figure she has a fair bit to tell.