Adventures with kitsunes

10 Tamikos POV

Ayala used her favorite slash with her sword at my face; for the fifteenth time. I inwardly sighed and slashed back in a parry, while at the same time twisting my katana. This motion snagged her weapon, flipping it out and disarming her; also for the fifteenth time. Her sword clattered to the paving stones just outside the estates large gate.

Ayaka furrowed her brow, "I really thought I would be able to keep hold of my blade that time." I smiled lightly, "Sorry i know i use that move a lot, i can try changing up my style a bit if it's getting too monotonous."

We were sparring outside the estate and ayaka was proving herself to be quite the swordswoman. After my first few talks with Thoma, i had met Ayaka, the young lady Yashiro commisioner. Although since then, I hadn't remembered anything useful to point out exactly where i was from or who i knew. However, neither of the Kamisato siblings seemed too worried about who i had been before, I had only met sir ayato a few times because he was always so busy with his work as the commissioner; but me and Ayaka had connected pretty well.

"No," Ayaka said, "I want to figure this out. Didn't you say that your swordsmanship is part of an ancient art? If i meet anyone else in battle that practices the same way of blade work, they aren't just going to adjust their fighting just to be certain i wont be injured." I smiled again, Ayaka's stubbornness within the realm of combat was truly admirable.

It was late afternoon and the sun was angling towards the horizon, the golden hues promising a truly gorgeous sunset. But Ayaka wasn't looking at the sky, rather, she was focusing on a group of unknown soldiers marching towards the estate.

"Ayaka who is...?" Ayaka looked slightly baffled, "What is a group of the Kujou encampment doing over here?" She snapped back to her, 'let's act now' face. "We're not technically supposed to be outside of the estate right now, let's get back inside and then I'll find Ayato to help me deal with this."

    She did her best to hide the look of concern on her face but it was easy to see if you knew what to look for. Why would Ayaka be nervous by a visit from the Tenryou commission? Weren't they supposed to be on good terms?

    I wondered if i should try asking Thoma about it later, but decided against it, there was no telling what the Yashiro commission had done that the Tenryou commission hadn't approved of, and I wasn't interested in listening to Thoma ramble on about it for an hour.

    Me and Ayaka headed back inside the estate and when Ayaka caught sight of Thoma chatting leisurely with one of the gaurds, she called him over. "Is there something wrong my lady?" He asked with his usual half grin. "Not something wrong but definitely interesting," Ayaka told him with her gentle smile, "We have a surprise visit from the Tenryou commission with Ms Kujou Sara at the helm."

    Thoma's smile vanished in an instant, "Oh, yeah that is an interesting situation." I looked at both of them, raising my eyebrow and folding my arms. "I dont suppose im going to get a straight answer out of either of you am i?"

    "Not from either of them, no, but i can answer the question i know is buzzing in your brain right now." Kamisato Ayato strolled out of the estate, looking polished and like he was born to deal with unexpected guests. "I think the reason Ms Sara has decided to visit us today is the same reason you and Thoma sneak out to deal with the newest waves of incoming monsters."

    Thoma blushed immediately, because we had done that many times since we had heard about the increased attacks. I had caught him sneaking out once and in exchange for not busting him, i had him let me join him.

    "Don't be too shocked," Ayato said with a slight smile at out surprise, "I noticed the first time you two were missing and put two and two together." Neither of us said anything and glanced at each other again, looking like kids that had been caught midway through breaking the rules.