Hanabi

Chapter 37: Ryuuteki VS Nekomata

INFO:

“-han” – the Kansai dialect version of “-san”.

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- I can think of many reasons why this is a very bad idea.

Rina sighed, but didn’t reply at first. She looked over at the brunette walking by her side and just stared at her and the bright red saya protecting the katana in her hands. The way that Haruna kept pulling her black jacket to protect herself from the wind was a good indicator of how cold it was that morning.

It was early, the sun had just appeared in the sky, and yet Rina was there with Haruna walking up Mount Kurama. Rina left a note for the other girls to know where they went; if it was Haruna’s decision she’d just wait and see how freaked out Tomomi would be later.

- At least we have the katana if something bad happens… - Rina commented and adjusted the small backpack over her shoulders.

- But we don’t have Tomo and her flute.

- You know we need to take another look around if we really want to make plans, Haruna.

- I know, I’m just saying that shit may happen and it’ll be entirely our fault.

- You sound more worried now, than you were when I first told you my idea.

It was true. Another couple of days passed and Rina noticed another change in Haruna’s behavior from the day before. The mouthy girl had never really agreed to use Tomomi as bait, but she used to agree with the rest of the plan. Not so much now.

Now she was being strangely cautious for someone who Rina saw sticking a dangerous ofuda to herself back in Kamiya’s shop.

- Well, I am.

- Care to tell me why?

Now was Haruna’s turn to sigh, and she looked a bit distressed. That wasn’t very usual, so it made the kitsune worried. She had been worrying about all of them a lot, since everyone in Mami’s house seemed quite a bit tense lately.

- I was talking to Tomo last night… - Haruna began, stopping and looking around, making Rina stop walking as well - She’s been having these frequent nightmares. Mami’s worried too, I can see it in her face.

- Nightmares?

- The weird kind. The kind that my grandmother has. And all of them involve the same things.

- I’m almost afraid to ask…

- Nightmares about forests and shadows and black smoke. Huge red eyes too, sometimes. And, of course, Mami screaming like she’s dying. - the shorter girl sighed again and scratched her head - You realize this is not a very good sign, don’t you? - Rina covered her face in a frustrated reaction - And their shougi thing is not working yet, and my guess is: it’s not working because Tomo keeps having these nightmares and Mami keeps thinking about them and can’t stop worrying. She can’t relax for a damn second.