Enchanted in the Moonlight ~ Shinra ~ Main Story

2.2 Squabble with Shinra

(Well, that ruined my good mood.)

I get back to work, feeling a little annoyed.

Soon enough Shinra yells: "Take a look at this picture book!"

(He's back...)

"What is it?"

(The inch-high Samurai?)

"As if this pipsqueak could defeat the world strongest samurai." Shinra mocks.

"Uh-huh."

Then Shinra asks: "And hey. Why do humans throw beans at us in February?"

"You mean Setsubun? It's an old custom. A ritual for ridding our homes of anything bad and sending it outside."

"Haha! Humans are so stupid. You think you can get rid of oni with some beans." He laughs.

(Would he yell at me if I told him that we know that?)

"Why is it that we're always either red or blue when humans draw pictures of us?" He asks a little annoyed.

"Huh? So there other colours?"

Shinra looks shocked at me. "Obviously."

"Like what?"

"What, you're interested in oni?" He grins.

"Yeah. A creature that I've always thought was imaginary is standing here in front of me."

"Y-you're weird. A human interested in oni." Shinra falters suddenly and his face turns bright red.

(Did that make him happy?)

His eyes sparkle threateningly. "Well, whatever. I'll give you a lesson later on what an oni's body is like... You get me?"

(His body?!)

"Umm, that's okay. I'm okay now. Please don't interrupt me."

"Come on. You're so boring." Shinra grumbles as he goes back to the children's corner.

Without a moment's delay, Ikumi says: "I saw that!"

"Wh-what?"

She smiles thrilled. "Don't play dump. You're pretty friendly with that hottie."

"I'm not!"

"Hmmm. How mysterious." Ikumi doesn't believe me. "I wonder if that complicated aura from this morning has anything to do with him?"

(Geez. Ikumi is quick.)

"So, umm... There's something I want to tell you, but you have to stay calm."

"Okay." She's immediately serious.

"So that guy, Shinra. He has got a really cute face, but..."

"Yeah? But?" Ikumi asks as I don't continue.

"Actually... he's a demon."

She looks shocked at me.

"Of course no one would believe me..." I murmur.

Suddenly Ikumi squeaks: "That's amazing!"

"Huh?"

"Ooh, a demon... I just love it when a guy has a whole other side to him." She's enthusiastic.

"No, that isn't what I-"

Ikumi cuts me off. "So like, not just a nice guy, but a guy who's also strict. I love it."

(She totally didn't get it.)

"Hey!" I turn around and Shinra is standing there looking kinda like a demon.

(Crap, did he hear all that?)

"Come here for a second." Shinra takes firm hold of my arm and drags me to some deserted stacks.

"H-hey, let go of me..."

He slams me against the wall.

"Ow..."

He growls: "Don't tell anyone about us."

"Wh-why?"

"No matter what!" Shinra insistently says.

"You're being unreasonable..."

"You really don't get the position you're in." Shinra steps closer and closer towards me.

(H-his face is so close...)

Seeing him up close like this, I can't take my eyes off his handsome and dignified face.

(I didn't know there could even be a face this perfect... Err, what am I doing? I won't crush on this guy!)

"I-if I talk about it, what will you do?"

"If you talk to someone about it..." Shinra traces m chin with his finger. 

We're so close I can feel his hot breath and he whispers: "... I'll devour every last ounce of your power."

Just when it seems like our lips are about to touch...

At the last second, I turn my face away.

"So don't tell anyone." And with that he leaves.

(That was scary... But also weird. Why couldn't I resist?)