Enchanted in the Moonlight ~ Shinra ~ Main Story

6.2 The kappa

Eventually, the dango are ready.

"They're ready, guys. Here you go." The ayakashi were all waiting on the deck and they crowd around the sweets.

"They look so good!" Shinra says happily.

Kyoga looks surprised. "I didn't know you were such a good cook."

"I'm not really."

"Shinra's bride is a chef. I'm jealous!" Kyoga grins.

"Hey, hey. I'm no one's bride!"

Kyoga begins laughing. "Haha. You're so cute when you're blushing!"

(Are they treating me like we're getting married?!)

"I'm was surprised to see Shinra helping out with it." Yukinojo says.

Kyoga grins. "It's probably thanks to Ayame they're even round."

(Hmm, they're right.)

I glance at Shinra. Both cheeks are stuffed with dango.

(Huh... he looks kind of cute like that.)

"Hey, what's with these humongous ones?" Chikage points at the big dango.

"Oh, Shinra made those..."

(Wait a second, no one is eating the huge ones?!)

For some reason, Shinra is eating the dango that I made.

"Why aren't you eating the dango that you made?"

Shinra responds. "It's not like they taste different."

"What?!"

(He was just complaining left and right about it.)

"Shinra's stubborn, too." Kyoga laughs.

Yukinojo smiles. "Heh. Well, that's part of what makes him so lovable."

"This is no time for hanging around and eating dango?" All of sudden, a man of small stature jumps out of the pond.

(Wh-who is this?!)

The man kneels respectfully in front of Shinra. "It's been a long time."

Shinra looks surprised. "Oh, it's the kappa. Hikobei."

(Kappa?! A river child?!)

"What's up? What are you doing here?" Shinra asks.

The kappa looks shocked. "What's up?!" Then he looks angry. "You go to the human world and I receive no message from you whatsoever. I was worried."

(More weirdness. At least he doesn't seem like a bad guy...)

Suddenly, my eyes meet the kappa's.

"You're the girl?" He asks. "Hmm." He crosses his arms and looks my body over. "I thought you were going to be a beauty, but you're nothing special. You don't even have a plate on you're head."

"WHAT?!"

(Right, because I'm a human, not a kappa!)

"Hikobei." Yukinojo calmly says. "Ayame is a very important woman for our world. Be careful with what you say."

Hikobei panics as he hears Yukinojo. "M-Master Yukinojo! Forgive me!" He bows his head while simultaneously glaring at me.

(What's with those eyes! It's like he's mad at me.)

Hikobei stops bowing and turns to Shinra. "I have a message from my master's father."

"My father?" Shinra looks surprised.

Hikobei explains. "The people in the village are already aware that Master Shinra and that girl - I mean, the lady - have made an agreement. He would like you to come back to the village and report to your clan."

"A mononoke village?"

Shinra looks at me. "The world where we live."

Hikobei continues. "Everyone is waiting for you, your father included."

"I see." Shinra nods.

"Well, I'll head back now. Master Shinra, please come back soon." The kappa says.

"Yeah." Shinra nods again.

Hikobei relays his business, then quickly disappears back in the pond.

(Wh-what's the deal with our pond?)