Zodiac Circle

Chapter 45: The Fan's Warm Welcome

"Y... You're Matsumatsu?!" Tamie couldn't hide her stupor - the happy and carefree-hearted fan whom she communicated with by Computer-gadget was none other but the strict magister of the Blade Warrior Order?!

Kokuyo Matsumoto instead shyly beamed, still holding the book out to her. Tamie glanced down at the book and recognized her novel, Demon Lord's Sorrow. Yes... it was truly Matsumatsu, the fan of Kokujin's stories she had written.

"Sure, I'd be glad to autograph your book!" she took her ink-brush out of her bag and indeed signed the book cover. Then she added another signature and winked at the Magister: "This second autograph in Japanese Katakana just for you".

"Oh... thank you so much!" Kokuyo chuckled, taking the book back. "Well then... I am deeply sorry for my harshness before," he bowed down his head, "You may stay with us for as long as you like. I permit you to operate in Matsunoki town freely, and I'd be more than happy if you stopped in our order building during your stay".

Tamie and her friends brightened - they were permitted to stay! But the Blade Warriors that attended this conversation had another concern - Matsumoto-sama actually bowed down to someone, and not just anyone, but a foreigner?!

"It... It is a miracle!" they whispered to each other in Japanese.

Byakuya was no less stupefied - to just think Kokuyo-sama would ever bow down to anyone, and especially a foreigner!

I guess nothing is impossible in this world... he chuckled, glancing at rejoiced Tamie. This girl surely has powers...

"I am eternally grateful, Matsumoto-sama," Tamie bowed back to the young man.

"By the way, Tamie-san... for you I'd like to just be Kokuyo".

The Blade Warriors and Byakuya got even more dumbfounded - Matsumoto-sama permitted a foreigner to call him by name?!

"Truly a miracle..." the members whispered to each other again.

Okay, she has powers... but to be this mighty... Byakuya thought with clear stupor.

Tamie instead grinned happily:

"Thank you very much, Kokuyo-sama!"

"Byakuya will lead you to your rooms. And I hope I can invite you for dinner, Tamie-san, together with your friends," Kokuyo added a polite beam, "I remember you wrote to me once that your favourite dish is sushi. Since you're here, you can taste the best sushi that exists in the world".

Tamie flew unto seventh heaven - to actually taste sushi right in Kenshin!

"I give my eternal gratitude!" she exclaimed. Kokuyo pleasantly chuckled and then exchanged glances with Byakuya, who immediately understood the command and led friends out of the hall, onto the third floor, where the best rooms were situated.

Soon Tamie and her 'sisters' - Tiger and Riza - were given a common room while Shiba was given a separate one. The rooms were wooden, with low beds and scarce furniture. It felt simple and comfortable, and outside, in the garden, birds were chirping on the cherry blossom and pine trees and koi fish whisked in clear ponds.

"Ah, this is amazing!" Tiger cried out and dropped unto a fluffy bed, while Christo and Astra, her cats, lazily jumped up on it and nestled down. Blizzard was instead happily barking and running around, observing the new environment.

"Yeah, feels so relaxing..." Riza smiled and sat on her bed, putting the bag down. She then looked at Tamie: "Who would've thought that Matsumatsu guy was the Blade Warrior Order Magister... You've got quite some fans, Tamie".

"Yup, you bet! My fans are all so powerful!"

"Anyway, I'm looking forward to Kenshinese sushi..." Tiger winked, already a little hungry.

"Haha, me too. I bet it'll be delicious," Riza was excited as well.

"I can't believe he remembered all those things I've told him! At first, he seemed quite scary, but now, knowing he's my fan, he's somewhat... cute..."

"Hmm... I think Kokujin will get mad if he hears you," Riza teased her. 

Tamie laughed:

"Aww, come on! I'm just saying he's gentle!"

"I know. I was joking. Anyway, good job! It is thanks to you we were permitted to stay".

"Let's hope the whole mission will turn out this smooth..." Tiger petted her cats while Blizzard was sniffing around.

"Yeah, I do hope so..." Riza sighed - that Shadow Ninja Order was still bad news.

Tamie, however, had a positive spirit. She was looking out of the window, admiring the beautiful garden, and flying into pink clouds. But of course, clouds could never stay eternally pink or white - storms were going to gather eventually even in the sunny country of Kenshin...