Eitsu's Nine Lives (永津の九生) [yuri/GL yokai reincarnation story]

18 - Zhào Xīn

A/N: I ran out of time to do the footnotes - they'll be updated by the end of Monday AEST.

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"Honourable guest?"

Tai Kikuryuu appeared out of the night, carrying a lantern. Its dim light barely raised the details of Eitsu's form as she crouched under a plum tree, head in her arms. His eyes fell on the broken box beside her. A tuft of a red and white fur poked out.

"Honourable guest, are you alright?"

Eitsu sighed, pushed herself upright and rubbed her eyes. "I will be. Is everything ready?"

"It is. How quickly can you run?"

Eitsu tested her limbs. She felt heavy, weak, light-headed, but she limbered up with a faint grin. "I've seen how people like you jump around. Go as fast as you can. I'll keep up."

With a nod, Tai Kikuryuu pushed off from the ground and flashed away north. Eitsu flowed after him, simultaneously revelling in her speed and feeling a thousand years weighing her down.

The most recent years were the heaviest.

"This way."

They left the compound of buildings and raced between trees, not a foot put wrong despite the pressing dark. Tai Kikuryuu was actually one of the slower martial artists Eitsu had seen since she had arrived at Hanasan.

"We're leaving the Way of the Mountain School and heading to the Clear Sight School. It's just over there."

Another compound of buildings blazed ahead, watchfires set along the walls. They dropped down before the gate and Tai Kikuryuu called out.

"Senior Disciple of the Way of the Mountain, Cheng Guk Lung, escorting a guest."

A symbol glowed red on the door, a huge diamond shape, the edges formed by strings of characters that Eitsu could not fully interpret. Flame-like loops whirled within.

It faded, and the gate opened. They darted in, and were joined by a disciple in similar-looking robes to Tai Kikuryuu's, only in a dark red shade rather than brown trimmed with yellow. "Cheng Shī xiōng. Jiā bīn Tiān gōng."

"He's just greeting us," Tai Kikuryuu explained, then said to the other disciple, "Is everyone ready?"

"Is everyone ready?"

"They are."

A moment later they were entering a large room with a low square table, surrounded by a variety of characters. Eitsu saw Tsubaki among them, Ayame close by her side. She turned her eyes away almost immediately.

Tai Kikuryuu bowed to all those present. "Thank you, shī fu, shī xiōng, shī jiě. This is the honourable guest who requires your assistance. I will act as translator."

All eyes turned to Eitsu. She looked exhausted, dishevelled, the once-fine robes that Rei had draped her in all wrinkled and torn. Fierce gazes picked her apart.

Dig deep, kami.

"Is that so?" She shed her human form, gritting her teeth as she pulled herself back towards how she had once appeared. Golden fur. Three red lines like claw marks across each cheek. She shook herself, and the bell on her red collar rang out.

The large golden cat sat amongst the pile of clothes where the woman had stood.

A middle-aged woman at the end of the table nearest to Eitsu stood and bowed to her. "Great spirit, my name is Zhào Xīn, Acting Master of the Gales of Battle School. Please explain your circumstances to us."