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

Chapter 6

"Cow-head? Horse-head? Are you there?"

(F/N) peered into the darkness of the Gates of Hell. It was time for her monthly teatime with the two creatures. She'd brought the snacks. The only problem was finding them.

Most would find it odd that she was friends with a giant mutant cow and horse, but they'd welcomed her when she was first in Hell, and she was grateful for that.

"(F/N)-chan? Is that you, neigh?"

(F/N) spotted the white horse in the distance, and waved. Horse-head bounded over to her.

"You're late!" she scolded, putting a hoof on the girl's shoulder, and guiding her to the back of the dark passage.

"I'm sorry," (F/N) apologized. "Forgive me?"

"Of course! Now come on, we don't want to keep Cow-head waiting! We have something we want to ask you! Neigh!"

Horse-head took her to the gatekeepers' small apartment in the back. When the arrived, Cow-head was sitting at the rather large table. As soon as they entered, she stood, and wrapped (F/N) in a tight hug.

"(F/N)-chan! It's been forever!"

"Y-yeah..." (F/N) gasped, flinching at the sensation of her spine breaking.

As she was lying on the ground waiting for her backbone to regenerate, Cow-head turned to Horse-head.

"There seem to be some intruders. I will investigate. You can stay here and entertain (F/N)-chan. It will only take a moment, moo!"

"Make sure to come back soon, neigh!" Horse-head urged her. "We can't drink all this tea by ourselves!"

Cow-head gave no response, and by the time (F/N) was able to sit up again, she was gone.

"What was that about?" she asked groggily, limping to one of the large chairs.

"Just some gatekeeper business," Horse-head assured her, unloading the snacks from (F/N)'s bag. "Now, about what I was going to ask—"

"Shouldn't we wait for Cow-head to come back?" (F/N) asked.

"Now, why let her have all the fun?"

I have a bad feeling about this...

As a cold sweat ran down (F/N)'s back, Horse-head's eyes gleamed.

"Cow-head and I talk about our love-lives all the time, (F/N)-chan, but you never talk about yours. Tell me, is there anyone you like?"

(F/N) wanted to sink into the floor.

"No, there isn't," she growled.

"You're blushing, (F/N)-chan!" Horse-head teased. "Now tell me, it's Hozuki-sama, isn't it?"

"N-no..."

"But you're admitting there is someone!"

"Th-there isn't..."

"Is it Hakutaku-sama?"

"God, no!"

"Then who?"

(F/N) clenched her fists, now beet-red. "Fine! I liked Hozuki-kun! But it's all in the past, and pinky swear to me—wait, you don't have pinkies—just promise you won't tell anyone, or I'll cut you!"

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, neigh!"

"I told you, it was in the past!"

Horse-head ignored her. "Now, as for how you'll tell him—"

"I'm not going to tell him," (F/N) growled.

"(F/N)-chan—"

"Cow-head's taking a long time, isn't she?" (F/N) changed the subject, getting to her feet. "Should we look for her?"

Horse-head waved a hoof dismissively. "It's just guardian business—"

"So then why did she leave her spear behind?"

Horse-head followed the girl's gaze to the counter, where Cow-head's spear was resting.

"That girl will be the death of me."

When they found Cow-head, she was standing with Momotaro and Shiro, watching Hozuki and Hakutaku trying to pull each other's faces off. (F/N) wanted to laugh, and maybe make a sassy comment, but at the sight of her boss, the only thing that came to mind was Horse-head's words from earlier.

"Cow-head!" Horse-head called, galloping towards the ever-growing party. "Cow-head! Neigh! Please do your job! Here." She handed Cow-head her spear.

"Oh, dear," Cow-head apologized. "I'm so sorry."

"What am I going to do with you?" Horse-head teased.

(F/N) leaned against a pillar, watching from the sidelines.

Damn, Horse-head! Why did she have to stir up these feelings! I thought I'd managed to get rid of them! But then, my behavior at the hotel...

"Ah, (F/N)-chan!"

She was jolted out of her thoughts by Hakutaku's cheerful voice. He bounded over to her, and slung an arm around her shoulders.

"Hey, Haku-kun..." she muttered, still not completely focused on her surroundings.

Her eyes caught Hozuki's. He was watching the divine beast's display of affection with a glare.

"You shouldn't touch your female acquaintances so familiarly," he snapped.

Hakutaku grinned. "Is that so? But the two of you hug like this all the time, don't you?"

He hugged (F/N) around the neck from behind, in the way she'd done with Hozuki at his place just weeks before.

Without thinking, (F/N) pushed him away.

"That's my misconduct, not his," she muttered.

She glanced at Hozuki. It was true; she'd never asked him how he felt about her displays of physical affection. It was natural for her, but what did it mean to him?

His face betrayed nothing, but staring at his handsome features, she began to blush.

"I-I think I should go now," she mumbled, stumbling towards the exit.

"So soon?" Cow-head whined. "We've barely gotten to talk at all! Moo!"

"Y-yeah, sorry." She bowed to the guardians. "I'll make it up to you next time."

"(L/N)-san, are you okay?" Hozuki asked.

"I'm fine."

He grabbed her shoulder to stop her, but she slapped his hand away.

She flinched at her own action.

"I-I'm fine."

Then she ran away.