The sake shop - Kamisama Kiss

Prologue

"Hey, Mizuki!" Nanami exclaimed as she opened the front door of the shrine. It was a bright Saturday morning and she was happy to see her friend, Mizuki.

"Good morning, Lady Nanami." Mizuki replied politely as he bowed.

"So, what brings you here?" Nanami asked, curiously.

"Tomoe requested for me to visit today. I'm quite curious as to why. The two of us are rivals after all." Mizuki answered as he recalled Tomoe's message.

Nanami was smiling brightly as she encouraged her guest to come in and take a seat. Mizuki loved how kind and innocent Lady Nanami was. At times, it even made her vulnerable and put her in danger. That's how naive she was. He was in love with her, though it was unrequited.

Nanami was the land goddess of the Mikage shrine. Her familiar was a fox spirit known as Tomoe.

Mizuki was the snake spirit of the Yonomori shrine. Lady Yonomori was the water goddess.

Tomoe soon entered the room where Nanami and Mizuki were in. He had an annoyed yet serious expression on his face.

"Well, well. It's the Snake." Tomoe stated as he entered.

"And here comes the wild fox." Mizuki replied with a cold tone, rolling his eyes.

The two began insulting each other as usual. They sounded like little kids whenever they argued, which was whenever they saw each other. Nanami was normally patient, but she was beginning to lose her temper at the childish familiars.

"Tomoe." Nanami breathed threateningly.

This stopped them both immediedly. They both turned to look at Nanami. Since Tomoe had sealed a spiritual contract with Nanami, he was bound to follow every order she gave.

"Yes?" They asked in unison.

"Tomoe," Nanami repeated. "You invited Mizuki over. Why don't you treat him with respect and tell him why he's here."

Tomoe had no choice but to obey his mistress. So, he began to speak to Mizuki. "Sorry for calling you a stupid snake. It is just a habit of mine. Anyways, as much as I dislike you, I have some good advice for you." His voice was sarcastic like usual when speaking to his rival, Mizuki.

Mizuki raised one of his eyebrows in doubt. "Go on." He encouraged.

"Well, you have an exceptional talent for making sake, don't you? You beat all the other famuliars in the sake making competition. So I'm suggesting for you to open a sake shop."

Mizuki's eyes widened in shock. "You really think so?"

Tomoe replied with irritation, "Yes," Then he whispered so that only Mizuki could hear, "Stupid snake, It's only so that you can raise some money for our two shrines."

Mizuki sighed. "Well,"

Before he could finish, Tomoe added, "We've got a building sorted out for you, and we'll teach you the basics of business."

Mizuki felt as though he was being mocked. "Thank you, my dearest friend, Tomoe." He forced the words through gritted teeth, hoping to impress Nanami.

"Don't worry about it." Tomoe replied in a low, teasing voice. "I prepared everything already, knowing how stupid and unreliable you can be." He grinned as he watched the frustration forming on Mizuki's expression.

Nanami added, "That sounds really nice! Congratulations, Mizuki."

Mizuki smiled at the comment from his crush, while Tomoe simply rolled his eyes behind Nanami's back.

After that, the three of them had some tea and chatted for some time. Afterwards, Tomoe helped Mizuki to set up his new sake shop.

It was going to be called  'Mizuki's Sake Shop'. And Mizuki was going to be working there alone from now on.