A God's Kiss

Chapter Two: The God Asks for Help

"I'm a what?!" I exclaimed, and jumped away from Toby and Riley.

"Oh don't be afraid! You're the new land god of the Mikage shrine. It's a blessing." Riley said in a cheerful voice.

Her mask looked as if it had been painted by a mime.

"Please come inside." Toby begged and ran back to grab my hand again.

"Not with that 'thing' in there. He's like a fox or something." I said, still bewildered.

"He's not a fox! Well... he isn't anymore!", Toby said and pointed towards the house, "He was saved by Mr. Mikage as a yukai."

"I have no idea what that is." I responded and pulled my hand from his grip once again.

"A yukai is like a half man half animal that is very strong. Master Tomoe was young when he met Micah Mikage and he was covered in blood. Mr. Mikage saved him and brought him back to his shrine to become his familiar." Riley explained aloud.

Well that doesn't make me any less scared of him, I thought to myself.

"What's a familiar?" I asked them, still not budging from my spot.

"A familiar is a servant bound to the god, to protect them and care for them at all costs. Tomoe loved Mr. Mikage until one day Micah left to go to town and never came back. That's why Master Tomoe was so angry when he realized Micah hadn't come back." Riley said, her voice hinting at sadness.

I looked down at my feet and realized we were right back on the porch. I hadn't even noticed I was walking as Riley talked.

"Please come in Camille." Toby begged and I took a deep breath and pulled the door open.

Tomoe sat on the floor his head in his knees. His face shot up when we walked inside together.

He's beautiful, I thought to myself as I stared back at him. His face was long and sharp, and his purplish eyes looked back at me, almost tired.

"I'm Camille." I opened my mouth and responded automatically.

He looked away from me in disgust and I felt my skin heat up.

"I'm leaving." He said angrily, and walked out of the room to the back until the sound of a door slamming could be heard.

"Master Tomoe!" Riley called out sadly.

I shrugged, "Good riddance. He seems so mean."

The room was clean for the most part, but old. It had the smell of soap and careful scrubbing but reeked of loneliness.

"Do you have a bathroom?" I asked them and they nodded in unison, "second door on the right!"

I began walking through the house, tracing my fingers on the wood as I glanced in the passing rooms. I found the bathroom and tried to pull the door open.

It was as if it hadn't been used for ages when I finally ripped the door open. There was one single white towel, and a walk in shower.

I wanted to cry as I stepped in happily and turned the water on gently until it warmed up.

My skin practically shed an entire layer as I washed up as best I could without soap.

I stood for half an hour untangling my knots and washing my scalp free of dirt.

Almost an entire hour later I stepped out and wrapped myself in the towel. My clothes were gone.

My clothes are gone? I asked myself and panic immediately set in.