part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part after five but not part 6 (one shot),
it is often rare for lord toji to bring in guests, ameera tells you. unbeknownst to all of you, word of one of the greatest handlers for the underworld having a little... sweetheart, was big enough news to stir the world of god drama.
"it's sir zenin!" madam mildred hisses at both you and ameera. ameera, who holds a look as if she's seen a ghost, turns to inform you. "sir zenin is the worst of gods, he's one of the cousins to his excellence toji."
"why are you both acting like death is at the door?" you question.
"he's probably here because he found out his cousin toji has a new little woman in his garden," mildred sighs, "ameera is too young, I am too old, and the nuns are out of question leaving you as the only viable source for any god to consider you."
"consider me for what, mildred?" suddenly, towering behind you three stands tall and for the first time you gulp, seeing a look in toji's eyes.
"mildred," he speaks, "what's going on?"
"your cousin, dear excellence." she slightly bows her head. "would you like me to fix him up a pla-"
"-that won't be necessary, mildred." toji sticks out and waves a gentle hand so as to be dismissive. "thank you." the three of you watch him walk forward, hands on the door handles. it is now when you notice the expanse of his back. muscles expand and contract. "I'll have you ladies stay in here and not interfere as I talk to my cousin, alright?" the three of you nod as he looks back at you three. with the open and close of a door, he's out. your heart suddenly pounds quickly, racing as you search for answers.
you're thankful for ameera as the two of you scram towards an opening she's called as 'discreet', unknown to those around the house. helping you up, the two of you sit and stand on a couple of wooden boxes, standing on your tip-toes as you turn your head and see toji conversing to a man who appears to be his opposite. regardless of them being cousins.
"that's naoya," ameera whispers, "lady mildred says he's infamous for stealing wives and women whenever and however he pleases." she says, "I'm not a woman, but mildred says toji meant for it that way so as to keep me safe." you catch into the innocence of her words, not knowing the full extent of what harm is, but knowing enough it is better to stay away.
"you think he wants to harm us?"
"Our excellence wouldn't allow it," answers ameera with assurance, "he's made things to ensure that, but since naoya shares a bloodline with him... it's not exactly easy keeping a god away from this place." she says.
the two of you watch. toji stands tall, with hands on either side of his hips as he makes naoya take a step back, but he persists, smiling and attempting to saunter his way inside.
"oh, is that really a way to greet your cosuin, toji?" naoya grins. "I thought we were family..."
"you know well why I departed from the family naoya. you out of everyone knows best our values don't align, so why return where you're not welcome?"
"you wound me cousin," he offers a dramatized sigh and look, "all I am is coming to see how my cousin is. heard so much about you and how you might have a little..."
"that's not true." toji pauses, giving the effect of sternness. "wherever you heard that, is false."
"mmm.... the family whom you got a certain pair of earrings said otherwise, cousin."
"what business have you meddling with humans now?"
"there's a village not far from there with a tribal leader who is causing disputes amongst the gods. something about a virgin disappearing into the woods. might know anything about it?"
toji huffs, "some nerve of you to think I spend my days following virgins. you forget I'm not like you, naoya. now, if that's all, you can make way for yourself, I have somewhere to go."
"you won't happen to have a virgin within these walls, now don't you?"
"it's disgusting how you keep bringing this up. all there is here are old maidens, girls, and nuns. you'd be wise to keep yourself out of here." ushering him out, naoya hums. "very well, but I'll keep an ear out if I hear anything." toji makes a noise.
"you do that, but it's best you stay out these waters, naoya. I have enough on my plate as it is."
nothing much happens other than short conversation. both you and ameera turn to look at one another and spill the information to lady mildred who only sighs, confirming the allegations of naoya.
later that day, toji alerts all of you to avoid hanging by the main entrance during certain hours of the day. just for a few days, he advises.
but you think there's something more to this when he comes back two days later with a bracelet in his hand. when you inquire, he says. "I want you to wear this at all times." a firmness to his voice makes you freeze, "I don't ever want you to leave this place," he says. "not without me."
