The Neutral Soul--Hozuki x Reader (Hoozuki no Reitetsu)

Chapter 2

(F/N) plodded her way through the food line, plopping this and that on her plate. When she finally made it through, she chose her seat in her usual fashion: close eyes, stick a finger out, and see where it landed.

That day, it landed on the TV table, where she could just see Enma's head poking up through the crowd.

"Great!" she whispered to herself. "A suitable landmark."

When she got closer, she noticed Hozuki was also sitting there. Her chest felt warm.

Like soul mates!

She slapped Shiro's voice out of her head, and focused on the drone of the men's voices. It sounded like something was going on.

"Great King Enma, I am taking vacation time!"

"Crystal Hitoshi gets the other ticket, right? Give me one!"

"Forget it! Win your own tickets."

"Okay, then take me with you!"

"Never!"

"Hey, guys!" (F/N) interrupted, stopping by the table. "Is something going on?"

Hozuki looked up as if he'd been expecting her arrival. "Ah, (L/N)-san, would you like to come with me?"

"Why does she get to go?" Enma wailed.

"Sure!" She replied. "Where are we going?"

Enma balked. "You agreed without even knowing that?"

"I won a trip to Australia," Hozuki answered her question. (F/N) noticed the TV, which was still playing the end credits to 'Mystery Hunter x Hunter.'

"Australia? Seriously?" she exclaimed, slipping in beside Hozuki. "Wombats, koalas, and crocs, oh my!"

Hozuki took a bite of his meal, and Enma sighed.

"Why do you get to go?" he whined. "(F/N)-chan, tell him to let me go!"

"There are only two plane tickets," Hozuki informed him, "and (L/N)-san is much better company than you'll ever be."

(F/N) chuckled at Enma's scowl.

"You know what?" the king snapped. "That's it! You can't go!"

Hozuki gazed at him calmly. "I'm going, anyway."

(F/N) tried to hide her laugh behind her hand. Enma glared at her, proving her efforts were futile. Not that she particularly cared. Enma had no power over her while she was under Hozuki's wing.

"(F/N)-chan, you need to stay here!" he begged. "I can't be without a chief of staff!"

"I'm sure Takamura-kun would be happy to fill in," (F/N) replied with her cheeks full of food. "I'll text him right now."

"No!"

Enma tried to snatch her phone, but she dodged him, turning away as she hit 'send.'

Moments later, she got a reply.

Oho, you're going on your honeymoon, are you? Of course I'll help out. I'll stop by later to get the details.

(F/N)'s face exploded crimson. She shut her phone, not even bothering to send a response. She knew he was trying to get a rise out of her, and was annoyed that it worked.

Like soul mates!

She slammed her fist on the table.

Why can't I get Shiro-chan's words out of my head?

Three weeks later, (F/N) marched through the halls. It was the day they were heading to the Mortal World, then onto a plane headed to Australia. She was all packed. Now all she needed was Hozuki.

She found her way to the Judgment Hall. King Enma sat there, trying to sneak a beer while she and Hozuki were occupied. With a flick of her still-sheathed sword, she sliced the can in two, earning a whine from her superior.

"Hey, King Enma, have you seen Hozuki-kun?" she asked, clipping her sword back on her belt. She was wearing her civilian clothes, consisting of a (Favorite Color) t-shirt, a miniskirt, leather belt, and sneakers.

"Not today, I haven't," Enma replied. "Why, is he missing?"

She sighed. "Yeah. He's probably still sleeping. It's technically a day off, after all."

"Well, good luck with that."

(F/N) smirked, rolled her eyes, and with a quick word of thanks, took off down the hallway.

She'd never woken Hozuki up before (after all, he wasn't one to sleep in), but it couldn't be as bad as everyone said it was, right?

(F/N) could feel the ominous aura through the door.

She glanced at the Chinese lantern symbol above the door—double-checking she was in the right place—and knocked. When there was no response, she shrugged, and waltzed on inside.

She came to Hozuki's room often, to help him with his medicine hobby, or just to talk. It smelled little used, and it was. The man lived for his job.

She knelt by his bed, and leaned over to get a good look at his face. It was pressed into the pillow; all scrunched up like a baby. The sight made (Y/N) smile.

"He's so friggen cute," she whispered to herself, "and I have a feeling he's going to be a lot less cute when he wakes up."

She poked his cheek, and when that didn't work, flicked his forehead, then poked him again.

"Hozuki-kun..." she sang, "time to wake up."

He grunted, but didn't move. She sighed, and reached out to shake his shoulder.

A hand gripped her wrist, she gasped, and barely had time to register that he'd grabbed her when she was pulled into the bed, and cocooned in a pair of strong arms.

"Hozuki-kun!" she exclaimed. "What the hell?"

He made no response. She was held tightly against his chest, her cheek pressed into his. She desperately tried to push him away, but she was simply a human soul—no match for his strength.

"Bloody hell..." she muttered. She went limp, and instead tried to move to a more comfortable position. Then she noticed her lips, right up against his cheek.

She bit him.

He jolted awake, took one look at her, and sat up.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"Twelve o'clock. The flight's at two. You must've been pretty tired from work, huh?"

He stood up, smoothing back his hair.

So you're going to pretend that didn't happen? Okay? Okay.

"We still have some time," he muttered, going to the sink to wash his face. "Are you packed?"

"Yes."

"Meet me by the taxi station."

"Okay."

She walked slowly to the door, and, once outside, ran down the hall to her room, and fell to the floor in a blushing mess.

What the hell is happening?