~Tomoe X Reader: Book One~

4. No choice

You shrank slightly back at his outburst, mustering the strength to lift up your head as you closed one eye in pain, pushing yourself up with one arm.

"Please..." You said softly, looking down. "Don't leave just yet."

Tomoe's expression slackened in surprise, and you looked up at him, eyes brimming with tears.

"You saved my life, Tomoe. You and Mr. Mikage."

You smiled, tears slipping down your cheeks.

"Thank you."

Tomoe looked completely confused, but he simply brought his fan up to his face and left the shrine.

Two masked children came into the room, and you turned a lovely shade of green.

"U-um what are you?"

They were about the size of toddlers and looked like children, wearing small kimonos, both of them wearing a mask.

"Hello, Lady (Name)!" They called in unison.

The child with the more feminine designed mask stepped forward.

"I am Onikiri!" She introduced cheerfully.

The child with the the more masculine mask stepped up next to her. "And I am Kotetsu!" He added. "We are the shrine spirits!"

"If you need anything at all, ask us!" They said in unison.

You were a little unsettled by them, yet still you smiled politely.

"Um... Okay..." You paused, thinking.

You were now, somehow, a god, but you possessed no powers, or anything useful, not to mention you were injured and weak.

You couldn't turn back into a human without this invisible god marking, and even if you could, you had nowhere to go otherwise.

If any sort of conflict arose, you'd need help, but...

"Alright, Kotetsu, Onikiri, how do I go about getting a familiar?"

"It's simple," Onikiri said.
"All you have to do is kiss him," Kotetsu added.
"On the lips!" Onikiri said, tapping the bright red outline of the mouth on her mask.

"W-what?" You sputtered. "Isn't there any other way?"

Onikiri and Kotetsu looked at each other, then back at you. "Nope!" They said cheerfully, in unison again.

"Isn't there any other familiars around?" You asked, and both shrine spirits shook their heads quickly.

"No, no! Mr. Mikage wants Tomoe to be your familiar!" Kotetsu said.

The color drained from your face.

"So... I have to..."

A mental image of you kissing Tomoe made you bury your face in the pillow, cheeks growing hot.

Kotetsu walked closer and held out a hand.

"Tomoe visited the medicine god for this," Kotetsu said, and you noticed a small pink sphere in his hand.

"It is a peach pill, a magical pill that will heal any wound in minutes!"

You skeptically took it, swallowed the pill, then looked over at the shrine spirits. "Find Tomoe and bring him to me, please."

You looked at the shrine spirits with determination.

"I owe a great deal to Tomoe for healing me, but Mr. Mikage was the one who truly saved my life, and if he wants me to become the new land god with Tomoe by my side I have no choice!"