Before the Seven Mysteries (Amane x Reader) {Abandoned}

∙Nineteen∙

    (Y/N) donned a smile, walking up casually. She straightened her attire as best she could, but she couldn't waste any energy this second on fixing the skirt. Amane could see the strain in her form as she took those steps forward. Obediently he stayed back while remembering his promise. He chose to observe the surroundings for anything he could do or use. Every glance set him on edge, especially when he began to see pages of broken kanji and childish drawings appearing plastered on the walls. Their corners curled and yellowed before his eyes, the ink bled down, and it manifested tears that looked more like shattered mirrors.

    The ghost continued forward, taking careful note of the room with the help of the hakujoudai. She silently commanded one back to Amane where it floated almost menacingly. Every movement of her injured hand sent a myriad of pains shooting up her arm. It nearly caused a wince to show on her face. To disguise the expression of pain with one of calm friendliness, she bit her tongue. When she had positioned herself safely in front of her assistant, she halted and tilted her head ever so slightly.

    "Yako-san, it is a pleasure to finally meet you, however I don't recall this being your rumor." (Y/N) gestured kindly towards the giant fox. "I meant to seek your help, not fight with you. Defeating you isn't in either of our best interests."

    "Don't patronize me with your manners, I know they only exist to pacify me." There was a slight snarl to her voice that caused (Y/N) to raise her hands in a mock defense. "But you understand that rumors change, Hanako-san, and we are slaves to them. You know that as well as I do. Perhaps you know it even better." The fox's tail fell gently to one side, calm and elegant like an oversized house-cat, and the solemn expression she wore was tinged with bitterness. Her kitsunebi floated around her with similar airs. 

    The ghost grimaced at that and allowed her hands to fall to her sides once more. "Maybe I do." She gripped the yawara tightly for a few seconds, relieved that she felt nothing but the cold metal. "Regardless, we have a task, and you're in our way for the time being. Am I right that we only have to defeat you in order to be taken to Akari?" Amane once again noticed her yawara. It was held loosely in her hand, but something told him that she could wield it skillfully and would do so without hesitation.

    The fox's tail flicked at those words. "You act as though that will be child's play, when I clearly have the advantage," a smile as twisted as their surroundings played across the fox's muzzle and her eyes settled on the boy behind (Y/N), "I don't have any liabilities."

    "He's not much of a liability if he won't be taking part in this." An empty smile made itself known on her features. It was a smile she was happy Amane couldn't see, but she was aware of the incredulous stare boring into her. "The fight's between you and I, fox."

    She stood from her place, pacing forward a few calculating steps with her bushy tail swaying lazily behind her. She wasn't looking for a long fight, her goal was to defeat the intruder as soon as possible by any measure. "As you wish." Her hindquarters tensed a moment before she snarled and leapt forward with bared teeth.

    (Y/N) turned on her side, facing her right towards the incoming fox and taking a step forward to not be in her direct path, then savagely dug her elbow into the side of Yako's skull. Aggressive tinkling from the bells emerged from the sound of rain crashing down. The force turned her body so she was facing away from Amane, and she came close to slamming into the spikes she had created. They brushed against her sleek fur, and her tail flicked in agitation. She laid her ears back and shook her head to leave behind the stars in her vision. (Y/N)'s expression was blank, not a hint of worry nor superiority was directed at the fox. This seemed to anger Yako further because she bared her teeth once more in an even more vicious snarl than before.