Fast approaching

[Hey Kasumi, if you are awake, I'm back home now.] Ayame started feeling anxious as she had no idea if something was wrong and her gut was telling her there was something.

*Brrrrr*

Ayame's phone vibrated with Kasumi's name appearing on her screen. Instantly answering the call, she put Kasumi on speaker and waited to hear her voice.

"Ayame?" Kasumi whispered into the phone like she was trying to stay hidden.

"Kasumi! Is everything alright? Sorry, I was busy, but I'm free and okay now." Ayame was happy to hear Kasumi's voice since it helped calm her anxiety and told her that Kasumi was okay.

"I'm fine, but ummm how do I say this, my father doesn't really like you all that much, but now he is in the hospital and has seemingly changed his mind. Do you know anything?" Kasumi didn't want to disclose too much for her own safety but hoped if Ayame did know anything, she would get the hint.

"What? Your father is in the hospital? He doesn't like me but now he does?" Ayame was rather confused as it looked like a lot happened while she was on her mission.

"I'm just as confused as you are, he went out after telling me I shouldn't hang out with you, but suddenly came back injured and with a changed mind." Kasumi gathered Ayame had no idea and decided to keep it that way. She didn't want to cause more stress and with it being resolved, there was no need to involve Ayame.

"Okay? Well as long as you are okay. Where are you now?" Ayame became suspicious that Kasumi was hiding something, but Ayame shrugged it off as her still being in mission mode where she is sceptical of most things.

"I am currently at the hospital hence why I'm whispering, but I have something else to ask which is completely unrelated." Kasumi on the spot had an idea that might make it easier for them when they start going to university.

"Hmm?" Ayame was relieved to hear Kasumi was somewhere safe, but more importantly, was intrigued by what she had to ask.

"Did you want to move into the dorms together? They just opened up and they allow you to book with a friend of the same gender." Kasumi, while waiting for Ayame to contact her back, looked through the university's website to see what they could do.

"O-oh umm I don't know if I can, but I'll ask Mum if I can since you know." Ayame was taken aback by the offer, but she really liked the idea. It checked all the boxes of a typical life which is what she wanted.

"That's fine, I figured it would be a big ask. Just so you know the submissions close halfway through February which gives you 3 weeks to decide.

"Alright, thanks for letting me know." Ayame knew her answer was a yes, but she needed to get approval from Tomoe since she handled all of the assassination contracts.

"No worries, I should get going and let you sleep, it is 4 am." Kasumi saw the time and felt guilty for keeping Ayame up so late since she just got back from a mission.

"Haha thanks, I feel like I'm going to pass out in a second anyway. Don't want to end up sleeping on call." Despite Ayame's excitement about moving in, her body was shutting down on its own and was dozing off.

"Goodnight Ayame~."

"Goodnight… Kasumi." Ayame reached for the hang-up button but missed it completely. However, she wasn't paying attention and placed her phone down without hanging up.

Kasumi heard the banging just as she was about to press the button and realised Ayame didn't hang up.

"Pfft, I-." Just as she was about to speak she quickly ended the call as one of her father's guards walked in.

<Outside Ayame's room>

'Good thing Kasumi stayed silent about my fight… Not quite ready to tell Ayame the full truth.' Tomoe, as invasive as it was, eavesdropped on Ayame's call with Kasumi to make sure nothing was said otherwise she would be forced to give Ayame the full story.

'I wish it was time, but your stupid mother said to wait.' Hearing Ayame had gone to sleep, Tomoe walked back to her office to finish offering the souls to the gods.

After she finished, Tomoe opened up one of her desk draws and pulled out a letter that looked rather old.

'I should still check if I'm reading it right.' Opening up the letter, the handwriting looked almost perfect and covered the majority of the page.

[Dear sister Tomoe, If this letter is in your hands then sadly I have accidentally killed myself or someone managed to kill me.

I want you to look after my daughter Ayame who will be at that old shrine you always said to sell off to the developers wanting to make more apartments. And NO you can't sell the shrine for some cash, I want you to make it her home. Also want you to teach her to become a shrine priestess as well as an assassin.

I know I said I would never let her become one since it is dangerous, but she needs to be able to survive on her own, especially if my guess is right and the divines are falling apart slowly. I hope you can teach her all of your tricks since you are the best assassin I know ;).

Now to things you should know, the shrine is already fitted and done up, but depending on when you get this there may be some renovations needed. Also please don't tell Ayame of me, I know it sounds cruel, but I want her to grow up having a proper mum. Plus my husband is currently imprisoned so I don't want to drop that news on her since I don't think he is getting out ever sadly.

Anyway, when she hits an old enough age like 22 and has got a partner you can tell her the full truth, but I trust your judgement on that. But there is one thing you mustn't ever tell her. Do not tell Ayame about my research, I bestow this upon you and not only for her sake but for you. It is something that should never be learnt and honestly, I recommend you burn it, but if not be very careful.

Besides that I wish you well my dear sister, please look after your daughter for me and I'll see you up high in a few hundred years.

Love from Sakura<3]

Tomoe cried silently while reading the letter as it brought the pain back to when she first got the letter. Taking a few deep breaths Tomoe re-read the part where she was allowed to tell Ayame the truth whenever she was ready.

'Dammit, this doesn't help at all.' Tomoe wiped away the tears and then scratched her head as she felt like Ayame could be ready, but with her moving on with life it seemed too late.

'Looks like I will have to wait a lot longer, I just hope Ayame doesn't hate me when the time comes.' Having only just gained mother status thanks to Tomoe being rather strict when Ayame was young, Tomoe felt like she screwed some of it up.

'It doesn't matter now, she is a bright girl which I'm sure is what Sakura wanted.' Smiling and thinking about some of the recent events gave her a sense of pride and wondered why she doubted herself.

'Sorry Sakura for missing my chance to tell her, but please be patient.' Closing the letter, she looked out the window into the stars.

Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes for a few moments thinking to herself about what to do next.

'Okay, I need mentally prepare for when Ayame asks me if she can move out… I'm gonna need to hire another shrine maiden.' Tomoe wasn't going to say no to the dorm idea, but it meant more work for her when it came to the shrine.

*Sigh* 'At least Anna is a shining star so it shouldn't be too much of a hassle taking in a newbie fox girl. Guess my only worry is Ayame not keeping in contact with Anna, I did want them to become friends.' Tomoe bit her lip as it seemed like her plans were going out the window and in the end got more work.

'Oh well let's just see how it goes, I just hope Sebath doesn't cause any more issues.'

***

<Hopsital room>

"Sir Sebath you called?" A woman in a dark purple suit kneeled next to a hospital bed.

"I need you to tell all our contacts to target Ayame, she is a nuisance, but be very clear she is dangerous and cannot be taken lightly. I don't care how long it takes, but I need them to get to work." Sebath gave the order to put a target on Ayame's head as he won't be able to do so himself.

"Understood."