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Meanwhile, while Yura was still hurrying her way over—
At Yasaka Shrine.
"W-Wait, Bokue… I can't… let me rest for a moment…"
After another dizzying climb to the very peak, Yasaka clung to the boy in front of her, her voice soft and broken as she pleaded.
The tatami mats beneath them told the story themselves. Compared to an hour ago, the darkened, water-stained patch had spread significantly.
But since Yasaka asked for a break, Keikain Bokue wasn't going to just ignore her and keep going.
He stopped, shifted his position, and leaned back against the wall—holding the golden-haired, fox-eared beauty in his arms, her mature and alluring body relaxing into his chest.
Yasaka obediently rested her head against his shoulder, surrendering herself to a boy barely older than her daughter, allowing him to claim her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"…Hm?"
Bokue suddenly let out a questioning sound, raising his tone. He gently pushed her back just enough to see her face, studying her carefully.
"W-What is it?"
Even though she was already tired, being stared at so intently made Yasaka tense again.
"Nothing," he said—though his hands refused to let her go.
"It just feels like… something's different about you today. Are you hiding something from me?"
"I-Is that so?"
The moment he pressed the question, Yasaka's eyes instinctively darted away.
"So it is something."
Bokue sealed the matter with that calm certainty.
"Tell me. What's really going on? What could make you hesitate like this?"
Of course, with his current strength, he could easily peer into her heart if he wanted. Just like when he exposed Dimitrie Vatler's schemes.
But he never liked using that kind of violation on people he held close. He had no interest in prying into the thoughts of those he cared about.
"…Truthfully, there are two reasons why I don't want to move to Itogami Island."
After a long hesitation, Yasaka exhaled, as if resigning herself, and spoke.
"First—Yasaka Shrine is already in a fairly remote location, but even so, there are still worshippers who come every day. If I move to Itogami, even if you shifted the island close to Kyoto, it still wouldn't connect directly. Those people would have nowhere to go."
"And second, there's the Keikain clan and the Kyoto government. You know how things are—most of Kansai falls under my watch. If anything urgent happens, Yura-chan and the government come to me immediately. But if I relocate Yasaka Shrine to Itogami, then they won't be able to reach me quickly…"
In short: commuting problems.
Except—
"Yasaka, you're a terrible liar."
Bokue shook his head, his hands sliding back to rest firmly on her soft, curving waist.
"I've been away for years, but I know the truth. Nobody comes to this shrine at all, do they?"
"…"
Yasaka said nothing.
Because he was right. From the very beginning, Yasaka Shrine had never been meant for human worship.
Unlike Kyoto's bustling temples along crisscrossing city streets, her shrine sat deep in the mountains. Even for seasoned climbers, it took over two hours to hike up from the base. For the elderly, or even younger people who weren't used to exercise, it could stretch to three or four hours.
That was why Yasaka always had Kunou patrol the mountain trails morning and afternoon—just in case someone lost their way, so she could guide them back down safely.
The truth? Yasaka didn't need incense money. She was a great youkai—the legendary Nine-Tailed Fox.
As the honorary partner of the Kyoto government, she single-handedly regulated the entire Kansai climate. If she ever wanted anything, the government would move mountains to provide. If the mountain roads couldn't accommodate cars, they'd send helicopters within the hour.
But if Yasaka Shrine were too convenient, too visible—then all of Kyoto's spiritual traffic would flood to her alone. The other temples and shrines would starve.
That was why she kept her home here in the secluded mountains.
And as for "urgent situations"… nonsense. Any real crisis would happen inside her barrier anyway. She'd know instantly.
And even if something slipped past her—wasn't Bokue here? Was there anything he couldn't handle? Even if Japan itself began to sink beneath the sea, he'd probably just lift it back up with one hand.
"…Mm."
Caught without an escape, Yasaka turned her face aside, her beautiful expression torn between conflict and reluctant acceptance.
"If you really don't want to move, then when Kunou wakes up, I'll just tell her myself." Bokue's voice was casual, but the threat was crystal clear. "And you know her. The moment she hears, she'll insist on moving to Itogami right away."
"Sigh…"
Yasaka's eyes went wide at his brazen suggestion, but no words came. In the end, she only sighed, shaking her head helplessly.
"…Fine. You win. I'll move. But not yet."
"How long?"
"Half a month." She thought it through. "Even if hardly anyone visits, I still have to make a formal announcement before relocation."
"Half a month it is, then."
Bokue nodded. He didn't push further.
But one question still nagged at him.
If it was just a matter of making an announcement—then why lie to him in the first place?
He'd have to keep an eye on that.
With that thought, Bokue tightened his hold on the golden-haired beauty—and started moving again.
"Eh? So soon—?!"
Yasaka gasped, startled by his sudden renewed assault. She had barely caught her breath, and already her back arched, her hand flying up to cover her mouth.
"G-Gentle! Bokue, be gentle—Kunou's sleeping right next door! If you wake her she'll—mmph!"
But as Yasaka's head tipped back from the sudden jolt, her eyes flicked to the wall.
And in that instant, she froze.
Because through a tiny hole in the wood—
She realized someone was watching.
She'd been discovered.
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