The Goddess's Crow and Oni (Sequel to 'The Crow's Goddess')

The Gods Are Blindsided (Part 1)

Third person POV:

Kurama, Melody, and Tomoe follow Jiro to the worshiping hall. Jiro sat down on one side of the room as Kurama and Melody sat on the other.

"You, attended by a familiar? Impressive. I never expected a washout like you to return a god, Shinjiro. And you are accompanied by the Great Goddess herself." Jiro said as he eyed Tomoe.

"And you seem as well as ever, Brother Jiro. I was told that my sire collasped. Where is he now?" Kurama asked.

"He's within the sanctum, but he's not doing well," Jiro reached behind him and pulled out a feather. "So allowing him to see his runaway son would be out of the question." Jiro then put the feather in between his teeth as he spoke, "A land god or whatever you are, you're no longer of Kurama, after all!"

Kurama and Melody had small sweat mark on their cheeks, but kept their smiles on their faces.

Tomoe looked to Jiro. So, this man is Jiro. Indeed, a man built like bear. And he laid those boorish hands... on Nanami!!!!! Tomoe thought as lighten surrounded him as he looked at Jiro, wanting to kill him.

Melody noticed this and quickly slapped Tomoe upside the head, before anyone could noticed.

"You and I share much history, Brother Jiro, but that is all in the past now." Kurama said with a forced smile.

"Shinjiro and I came here today to celebrate your succession to become the Fourth." Melody said with a gentle smile. She turn to Tomoe, who held out a small serving tray with a bottle of liquor. Melody take the bottle with both hand, turning to Jiro and said, "I brought a tribute from the Heavens. We would like to share a cup of this with you, Jiro-san."

"It world be an honor to share a drink with you, Great Goddess." Jiro said bowing his head, in respect.

Kurama looked down to the floor, thinking to himself. This is some nasty stuff, Brother Jiro. It's medicinal liquor from the mundane world. If you are a light weight, it's one, two, three, floor. Kurama thought back to when he and Melody used Mizuki as the test subject.

Melody poured Jiro a glass. Now, go on, Jiro! Kurama thought.

"If you are now a god, do either of you know the celestial nymph, who was beneath the eternal cherry blossom, Shinjiro?" Jiro asked thinking back to Nanami.

Celestial nymph? Tomoe thought.

The who? Kurama thought.

Does he mean Nanami? Melody thought.

"Could be anyone. I have no knowledge of this." Kurama answered.

"Apologies, Jiro." Melody said.

All three men looked towards her.

"That was one of my dear friends. She means no harm to the mountain." Melody said as poured Kurama and herself a glass of the liquor.

"I see. Then please, Great Goddess, do warn us and your friend about the having your guests when coming here from now on. We would want to hurt anyone important to you." Jiro said.

"Of course, thank you." Melody said putting the bottle down.

This man... Tomoe thought as he continued to look at Jiro.

Jiro then took a sip of the liquor from his cup.

Elsewhere------------

Nanami, Botanmaru, Mamoru, and Melody's foxes were around the compound, trying to find the Sojobo.

"Whew! Talk about a huge building! We haven't seen any other tengus. Plus, I feel like we've been walking in the same spot for a while now." Nanami said. "Is everything okay? Are we really making forward progress? Botanmaru?"