The Kagami family's sitting room was a loggia, dark wood with a meeting table in the middle, a garden of white sand with bending lines from a rake overlooked that room. A zen garden, naturally devoid of trees or flowers. The architecture seemed to be high with thick walls surrounding the zen garden in order to mitigate incoming currents of wind, so as to prevent sand from entering the meeting room. Sitting cross-legged atop one of the pillowed chairs before the kotatsu, Arash looked out towards the sand as if mesmerized. He wore a white kimono with black detailed trims, freeform and primly cleaned as if it was preserved from the day he left. All three Exorcists sat around the wooden table alongside Shiho, sipping a cup of green tea while sitting on her knees in such a refined way she nearly seemed to be more like a queen than a priestess. "Rasha." Her voice finally trickled in. As if waking up from a half-sleep, he turned his head in surprise to find Shiho holding her cup in both hands, nodding towards the fox-like woman knelt beside him. In her hands was a tray of tea cakes and similar confections. "Oh. I don't really go in for sweets anymore. Thanks... she like them though." He pointed towards Ami. "We only have tea cakes. I presume you like something a bit sweeter." Smiled the fox. Ami, still dressed in the black Western sundress, shook her head with some reluctance. "Yeah... sorry. M-My grandma really loved tea cakes though! I've had some as a child and I never got the appeal. Heheheh..."
"A woman of taste. Did she enjoy tea ceremonies? I could see you being a very cute attendant as a child." Shiho glanced. It was reassuring to Ami, someone at least entertaining her anxious humor. "So, Rasha, I'd like to catch up on old times. How has my baby brother been?"
"Huh? Oh. Fine, I guess. I've got an apartment now. I'm Rank 4 in The Church. Investigation branch."
"Are you still dating that young lady? What was her name... Huang, yes?"
"Jade. Nah, we broke up two years ago. Listen, Lady Kagami, where's the old man?"
"Father? He's on an excursion again. Is that why you're wearing your kimono?"
"...Maybe." Shiho giggled, but composed herself in an instant. Her voice seemed to trail with a glimmer of remorse. "The emperor really is quite a vindictive man. You know, as much as I disapprove of Taiji Tsukichi, I respect the Tsukichi clan. They were handed the shortest straw of the Three Great Families and they made the most out of their situation. But the Xiao clan. Oh! They were given political control over the whole country and still feel threatened by the Kagami clan."
"The Tsukichi clan isn't too fond of you either, you know. In terms of influence, the Xiao family definitely has the biggest slice of the pie. I mean, they're the empirical clan. In terms of money, the Tsukichi clan is making bank in the jewelry industry. No matter how much the economy changes, diamonds will always be a girl's best friend. People are gonna get married as long as sex is on the table, so Gemcraft is always gonna be a lucritive business." Arash smirked. "You really must stop referring to yourself in the third person." Shiho retorted with a sip of her tea. "Huh?"
"Even if you don't consider yourself an immediate part of the Kagami family, you're an undeniable part of the Kagami clan. You went through too much pain not to be given that much respect; regardless of how much you feel like you fit in or not. You're my brother... blood or not." Arash nodded his head, looking back to the zen garden. She took another comforting sip of her tea and took a bite from her confection before covering her mouth with her palm and politely asking: "May I ask your names? You two never introduced yourselves." Yukimura and Ami looked at each other as if to decide who should go first since, naturally, the senior would present himself or herself first. "I'm Yukimura Haito, ma'am. Rank 3 Investigative branch Exorcist."
"Ahhhh! Yes, yes. You were here as one of Rasha's assistants while I was reconstructing the barrier some time ago, right? How has the transition into the Investigative branch been? You were an acolyte just recently, correct?"
"Yes. It's gone pretty well. I'm really grateful to Arash for being my superior this whole time. If it weren't for him, I certainly wouldn't have gotten to the place I am now."
"That's good to hear. And what about you, miss?"
"Ami Shirai, ma'am! Rank 3 Special branch Exorcist!"
YOU ARE READING
Aberration
SpiritualitéAmi Shirai is a standard underachieving high-school student. Her anxiety is commonplace, so her home is often the school stall: her quiet place of solace. This was the norm of her life until the end of another dragging day. Perhaps the chance encou...
