Though I May Not Remember...

Oh my!

What great timing! I was just thinking I wanted to see you.

I mean, it's hard for me to tell you humans apart, but even so.

But on another subject:

Fufufu!

I don't know if you can tell...

Buuut...

Oooh, smart booy!

I'm actually drinking this lovely brandy I got from the kitchen.

Oh, don't worry. I don't get drunk no matter how much I drink. I mean, I'm a god, right?

(Hic)

Aww, don't be like that. What's the problem? Besides, we're talking about you and me here.

And we're, uhh... What was it? Oh, right! Master and Servant.

Isn't that wonderful?

Those marks on your hand are proof that you and I have a rare, precious, veeery special relationship.

？！

Anyway, I'm so glad.

Hm? About what? Why, that you're all alone in here.

There are so many cuties here that it can be impossible to choose.

First, there's you, right?

Then there's Mash and Da Vinci, too. I just love such hard workers.

Minamoto-no-Raikou's lovely too, and Chiyome is just the most adorable little thing.

Oh, and then there's Percival! He looks yummy, too!

？！

？！

A type?

Hmm, good question. I'm not sure how to answer that.

I mean, it's clear to me. I know what I like, and there's something about you little lovelies that just...makes you sparkle.

And you know how I'm a serpent, right? So of course I love pretty, sparkly things!

？！

Kintoki...

？！

Ohhh, you mean Sekiryu's boy! The blond kid.

You just don't see many children of dragons and mountain witches.

He's the one playing at being a guardian of the human world even though he's barely human himself, right?

He's a hard worker too. I love him.

？！

Hm?

Who's that?

Shuten-Douji... That's what you just said, right?

Hang on, give me a second. I feel like we've had this discussion before...

Um...

I think it's coming to me... Nnn...

Uh...

？！

Wait, wait, don't tell me!

I've almost got it! It's right on the tip of my tongue! Um... Um...

You're talking about that haze, right? The haze I sometimes see in the hall! The one I can barely make out!

Out of the corner of my eye, it always looks like a shadow, but if I try to look directly at it, it's just a haze.

It seems like everyone's always bringing it up, and I'm getting kind of sick of it.

And now you're doing it too, Master.

What even is that haze, anyway?

？！

？！

...Is that so.

Look, Master. I know I've been drinking, but I still have to say this.

It's important, so listen close, okay?

I...am me. I'm the one here talking to you right now.

Right?

Sooo...don't you think it's unfair...

...to talk about other girls?

Well? Don't you?

？！

Sorry, I can't hear you.

You're going to have to speak up. Here, say it riiight into my ear.

Don't worry. This is your room. There's nobody here but us.

Go on now. Let me hear those sweet, sweet nothings.

？！

Hold it right there!

!

Get away from Master. I mean, please get away from Master.

Even if you are Master and Servant... Even if you are a Divine Spirit...

There are still protocols that must be observed, even between close friends. No, ESPECIALLY between close friends.

Isn't that right, O Divine Spirit Ibuki-Douji?

Um...

What...

...do you think you're doing?

？！

With all due respect, I must remind you that you are a Divine Spirit!

Furthermore, while I am aware that this is incredibly rude to say to a divine ara-mitama such as yourself...

I am afraid you have left me no choice!

This is unacceptable!

Ahahahahaha! Such spirit!

You're really serious about this, aren't you? That's amazing!

So are you two mad that I was teasing Master? Is that it?

...

I see.

So that's what this is about, huh?

Ahahaha, now I get it!

Looks like I had it all wrong! I mean, you're adorable Chaldean Heroic Spirits, the very best humanity has to offer!

I thought you were all good little boys and girls who would never get angry like this!

I guess I was mistaken.

...I'm sorry.

...It's quite all right. As long as you understand what you did wrong.

... ...

(Beaming smile)

...Um, Lady Ibuki-Douji?

Yeees?

I appreciate your apology, but I cannot help but notice you still have your tail wrapped around Master's waist...

Why is that?

Oh, this?

Gosh, it's kind of embarrassing to say... Um, just don't tell anyone else, okay?

You see...

I've decided I'm going to eat this darling boy tonight!

Tsuna!

I'm here.

You have permission to draw your sword in the base!

...Understood. I can see I have my work cut out for me yet again.

Ooh, the treasure of the Genji! I wonder if you can cut me with that!

？！

Of course you're on my side. Aren't you, Master♡

？！

Unacceptable... You will pay for this with your life...

Master... Could you move out of the way, please?

I just need to burn that woman to cinders.

？！

Ahahahaha! Pacify, huh? That makes them sound like raging gods!

Still, this IS Chaldea, isn't it? It would only cause problems if I damaged their Spirit Cores...

So, yes. Let's pacify them. Calm their anger to get them to settle down!

'Kaaay.

？！

Of course I will. I'd never want to damage our precious bed, after all♡

Come on then! If it's a fight you want, let's fight!

Ahahahahaha!

Truly a formidable opponent!

And as if she alone weren't enough...!

？！

Orochi!

Khh! We'll never get through to Lady Ibuki-Douji with so many of these in the way!

Ahh, Master!

Look, it's all about coming up with a plausible justification, in case Ms. Beni-Enma shows up.

If you can just buy me about thirty seconds, I can make it look like I was investigating a newly discovered minute Singularity.

Okay, got it. I just gotta smile and nod, right, Fox?

Huh!? What's going on here!?

Wh-what the...!? The hell is all this!?

Whoa! Orochi!?

Wh-what are those things? I thought we weren't allowed to let Divine Beasts roam free at the Wandering Sea.

Kintoki! Perfect timing!

O-oh, hey, Raikou

Lady Ibuki-Douji is out of control! Master's life is in danger!

We're surrounded by these orochi, so I need you to rescue Master! Is that clear!?

Huh?

R-Raikou!?

Um, Raikou? Kiyohime? Are you serious about this? Because you look like you're ready to kill someone.

Oh my! Out of the frying pan, into the fire!

Hehehe. Now things are really getting interesting! What do you think, Master?

Hmm. Well, since I've come this far, I may as well see my original plan through!

Come on, Master, let's break through them!

You think so?

Hmm, I don't know. I still wanna play some more.

So I think I'm gonna break through them! You come too, Master!

？！

D-dammit, we're inside the base here! Can't ya hold back a little, god of Ibuki!?

Damn, she's strong! Feels like I'm sluggin' it out with a goddamn mountain!

And if that wasn't bad enough...

We got even more orochi here now!

Hraaah!

Wow, you handled those orochi all by yourself. You must be...

Um... Hang on...

Sakata Kintoki.

You're Sekiryu's boy, right? I still can't quite believe he went and fathered a child in this world.

Wow...

...

... ...

？！

Wh-what is it?

I think she's...thinking? Reminiscing? But that doesn't mean we can let down our guard.

R-right.

...Come on, Master. Let's get going.

It might not be your bed, but I've still got a special, secret place where we can drink more brandy!

WHAT!?

U-unacceptable! Absolutely not!

Get back here!

Fufu. That's enough exercise for now.

Bye-byyye♡

She's fast.

Is she...gone?

That wasn't teleporting. It was just Rapid Movement.

That can't be easy for a human like Master to bear, but I'm sure she's doing...something to mitigate that. Probably.

So...does that mean things are okay now?

Don't be ridiculous! We have to find them at any cost, Tsuna, Kintoki!

Understood.

Aw, man...

...Hm?

What are you?

A bear cub? A wolf pup?

...

!

Hm?

I don't get it. First, you crawled out of the grass on four legs, so I thought you were a bear or wolf...

But now, you're standing on two legs.

What a strange child you are. Big, too.

Are you human?

An oni?

!

!

If you were human, you'd be able to speak. If you were an oni, you'd try to eat me.

So which is it?

...

...?

Fufufufufu. So, even you don't know.

That's all right. I can forgive your impudence, since you're still only a child.

What's more, I'm a little sleepy, and I get magnanimous when I'm sleepy.

Besides, you are Sekiryu's child, are you not?

To think he produced a child in this day and age. How amusing...

Fufu. Yes, very amusing!

!?

!

Oh, did I frighten you?

My apologies. My laughter can be a little toxic to creatures of this world.

Here, come to me.

Oh, don't be afraid. I was just out on a walk.

I'm letting you explore this mountain with me.

...

Here. This will do.

You there.

?

We're going to do sumo.

???

You're quite strong, aren't you? I can tell.

That's why I'm going to play sumo with you. You should be happy; this is a rare occasion!

...

Sumo. S-U-M-O.

You slam your body into your opponent's as hard as you can to try to knock them out of the ring.

???

(Sigh) Not being able to communicate with words is getting frustrating.

All right, how about this?

If you beat me at sumo...

You can eat me.

!

Ahahahaha!

So you may not understand my words, but you get the point I'm making!

I see. You were hungry, weren't you? There's an honest creature!

You've come along with me all this time hoping to catch me off guard and eat me! Aha!

Oh yes. That look in your eyes... That drool running down your chin...

You can tell, can't you?

That's right. My flesh is delicious.

Incomparable. Better than any of the wild beasts you've eaten so far.

...

...Come here.

!?

Weak.

Hup!

I win!

...

Now don't look at me like that. It's not as though this is the end of the world.

Fufufu. Hey, you.

You've never met a human before, right? I'm sure you've never met an oni before, either.

Nor have you ever eaten something shaped like yourself.

Ahh, it's a good thing you met me first.

You see, I'm in a really good mood just now.

So I'm not going to kill you. I forgive you for everything.

I forgive your insolence. And your ignorance.

I'll even let you continue living your life in accordance with nature's laws.

And while I'm being so permissive, I'll also give you both a curse and a blessing.

I forbid you to eat anything shaped like yourself.

!

Be it human...oni...

...or what you would consider the most delicious kind of meat...

Ahahahaha! You'll never get to eat any of it!

Your luck ran out when you ran into me! Serves you right! Kyahaha!

!

What was that?

You think I tricked you?

Don't be ridiculous! It's not every day I hand out a blessing or curse, you know!

You should be grateful to have received such a mixture of cruelty, affection, and benevolence from me!

That said...

All right. I tell you what.

If, from the bottom of your heart, you still want nothing more than to eat others shaped like yourself...

...then come find me, and kill me.

...

...?

Of course, you'll never be able to do that.

Not only am I far stronger than you, but you'll never have another chance to see me again in this life.

My turn is coming to an end.

It's been both brief, and an eternity.

As one of the heads of Ibuki Daimyoujin, the great god of Ibuki, I have been wandering away from the mountain for years.

I've traveled across hills and fields, crossed the very sea at times, and taken turns with...that, walking hither and thither...

But no more.

I'll never get another turn. Of that, I'm sure.

...

Fufu. You're quite good at scowling, aren't you?

But it doesn't matter. This is the way things are.

This is the end for me.

At best, you can hope to see me again in the great beyond...

...

... ...

...

...Hahaha! Just kidding!

Unfortunately for you, there's no way I'd remember anything so trivial as this!

Perhaps I would if I was the sword-wielding grown-up me...

But then, I wouldn't be me.

Never mind that. Remember this well, brat.

Do not ever forget this blessed curse of mine. You can forget about me, but not about that.

Understood?

!

Fufufufu! All right then!

...Oh, you're awake.

Sorry for making you join me for my dinner drink, too.

I only meant to have you pour for me while we were hiding away...

I guess I didn't realize how much I ended up drinking.

And before I knew it, it was after midnight! No wonder you got so sleepy.

It's okay. You can go back to sleep. I'll bring you back to your room before morning.

？！

？！

...Oh really.

？！

Is that so?

You certainly seem confident. Have you had dreams like that before?

Nnn, I'm sorry. That's not really what I meant to say.

Would you...mind telling me about it?

...Hm? Hey, Boss! And Ibuki!

Morning! Glad to see you're all right, Boss. You had me worried.

Really? Well, that ain't golden, is it!? All right, let me try that again.

Good golden morning, Boss!

That said, I guess I am kind of exhausted. It's five in the morning now, and I've been up all night lookin' for you guys.

？！

Hey, Blondie.

Um, or should I say, "Good golden morning," instead?

O-oh. Hey there, god of Ibuki.

Listen, I gotta ask: Where'd you go after you disappeared yesterday?

Boss Raikou had me searchin' the whole base for you top to bottom, but I couldn't find you anywhere.

Oh, don't fret about that. It's my little secret♡ Besides, Master's okay, right? So just don't worry your pretty blond head.

Y-yeah, I guess.

Wait. This is important!

Hmm.

... ...

Huh?

What is it, god of Ibuki? Why'd you clam up all of a sudden?

... ...

(Looking at Master)

？！

... ...

(Looking at Kintoki)

What?

...

(Sigh) Guess I have no choice.

It's not as though I remember perfectly now... But, I guess I am technically responsible.

So I've made up my mind. I'm going to fixate on you, Sakata Kintoki.

Huh?

Wh-what'd I do to deserve that!?

However!

!

Don't forget, Master is still my number one fixation.

You're second... No, maaaybe third.

Anyway, just remember that, 'kay♡

H-huh!?

Ahh, I feel so much better!

I guess I didn't realize how nervous I'd been. And at my age, no less.

I think I'm gonna go relax in the basement. Bye, Master! Bye, Kintoki!

...

I don't get it. I really don't get it.

Did she just challenge me to a fight? Or was it something even worse than that?

？！

Huh!?

What in the world's goin' on here, Master!?

Sh-Shuten...?

I'm, uh, not sure how to say this...

I haven't heard anything about it, and I really don't know what it means myself, but

Well? What is it?

I noticed some sort of haze clinging to the blue-eyed, blond brat now...

But that's all, right?

That's nooothing to do with me. Say, why're you trembling like that, Ibaraki? Are you cold?

I-I see. No, I'm not cold. Definitely not cold.

Then, um... It's fine. Everything's fine. Yep.

Fufufufufu. Silly Ibaraki.

Fufu...

Fufufufufufufufufuffufufufufufufufufufufufufufufu.

(Trembling more violently than ever)