Chapter Five : The Diners Who Dueled

Kozuke looks at the three in the corner of the dining room, eyeing the youkai anxiously together. He chuckles and walks around the table. After a moment, Kiyomi stands, her fluffy tail swishing as she follows him with a little smirk on her face. Sensing it, Kozuke looks over his shoulder and gives her an admonishing look before turning his attention to the three. Kiyomi sticks her tongue out at him and grins at the three, following him.

When Kozuke comes to a stop, he bows slightly. “I apologize that we borrowed your dining room. One of the best way to pay youkai for services is to feast them.” He smiles.

“Oh, is that true?” Mana asks, with an interested expression. “That’s very good to know,” she comments as she smiles.

“Would you three join us at the feast? You are to be honored by the feast as well.” Kozuke smiles.

“It’s for us, too?” Tatsuo asks, and looks nervously at the four gorillas who have already started devouring the contents of the table.

“You must be quick. Those four appear to have quite a voracious appetite after the work they have done. They aren’t finished with their work, but they will be soon,” Kozuke comments.

“What is it they’re doing here?” Tatsuo asks with a frown. “What are you all doing here in my friend’s house?” He steps between Madoka and Kozuke. Kiyomi covers her mouth and laughs softly behind it.

“What are you supposed to be, a guard vulture?” she laughs.

Kozuke chuckles and eyes her. Madoka looks at Tatsuo and chuckles a little at that herself.

“Haven’t they explained the situation to you?” Kozuke inquires with a raised eyebrow, looking at Madoka.

Madoka blushes intensely. “Ah… um… I got around to explaining how youkai are real, and that I’ve changed…” She twiddles her fingers and eyes Tatsuo. “I haven’t really gotten around to explaining beyond that.”

Mana laughs. “Ah, it’s hard to believe the rest,” she comments as she watches with an interested expression.

“The truth is, Tatsuo-san, that Madoka is none other than the one and only special shrine maiden for the kami Fujitabanare-sama,” Kozuke states with his tone laced with respect and pride. “And I am the lion-dog servant of the kami.”

Tatsuo whistles and gasps. “A miko? Not just a girl but actually a miko? Is that true?” He looks at Madoka, stunned.

“N-no… I never agreed to it!” Madoka yells.

Kozuke shakes his head and chuckles. “The kami protects you from the oni… but that blessing is not perpetual. If you don’t train you will not survive. These are the cards that your power, your fate, and your kami have dictated. Will you fight your fate?” Kozuke inquires gently. “Is it such a hard destiny to accept that you are a priestess?” he asks.

“Yes! I don’t want to be some kind of typical priestess running a shrine! It’s not what I thought I would be doing with my life. Why do I have to do that?” Madoka protests, hands on hips. She glares at Kozuke, her face flushed with anger and discomfort.

Kozuke shakes his head. “You misunderstand, Madoka. Kami is not asking that you live in a shrine or care for one. All that Kami asks for you at this time is that you take your training seriously and strengthen yourself to the point where you can protect yourself, if need be. To fight this is foolish,” Kozuke murmurs.

“I don’t know how foolish this is, crazy mutt. Your kami stole away my friend’s masculinity from him. She wants to turn him into some kind of biddable servant who will do whatever she wants, right? That isn’t right!” Tatsuo challenges Kozuke, staring into his face. For a long moment, the two face each other off and for a moment, Madoka sees the image of a vulture facing down against a lion-dog, both with battle auras blazing, as they stare each other down.

“Greaseball here has a point, Kozy.” Kiyomi puts a gentle hand on his arm and looks at Madoka. “You’re too vulnerable, and too scrumptiously delicious smelling.” She grins. “The fact of the matter is, the youkai will have a very difficult time resisting the urge to devour you, not just the oni. Kozy is right, you know. Sooner or later, something or someone, such as I… will outfox him and you’ll become someone’s tasty little treat.” She smirks. “If you’re so against training, with some form of… payment… I might consider protecting you.” She licks her lips lazilly, eyeing Madoka.

Madoka blushes redly and hides behind Tatsuo.

“It’s a youkai… how am I supposed to protect you from that?” Tatsuo protests as he struggles against Madoka’s sudden tight grip.

Meanwhile, Kozuke eyes Kiyomi; the aura of a lion dog with bristling hair emanates from him, and she stares back at him with a challenging expression, her own aura emanating from her while Kiyomi idly taps her fan against her free hand.

“Do something, or they’ll wreck my house…” Mana protests, moving behind Madoka and urging her quietly. “Just do the right thing and take your miko duties seriously. Be a good daughter and…”

“No! I don’t want to!” Madoka yells, clinging to Tatsuo. Tatsuo, on the other hand, suddenly notices that Madoka’s breasts are pressed firmly against his back. His expression of exasperation turns into a silly grin and his nose starts bleeding.

“Hey… that’s cool. I’ll fight anyone for you, Madoka.” He grins giddily, and snorts, steam seeming to pour from him; his vulture-like aura seems to magnify, and the other two who were still standing off against each other eye him again with raised eyebrows.

“Tatsuo-kun, don’t be stupid.” Mana frowns as she steps in front of him. “She’s a miko now. She has a costume too, and it’s adorable. Don’t you think it’s a good idea for her to learn how to be a miko? You know you want to see Madoka in that costume, right?” she whispers into Tatsuo's ear.

Kiyomi steps forward and runs her fan from Tatsuo’s stomach to his chin, looking into his eyes as she emphasizes her amazing body in her yukata. “Don’t you want to let her go? I promise I’ll dress her up in amazing clothes that will make your eyes pop. Don’t you want to see that?”

Tatsuo gasps and an even sillier grin spreads on his face.

“Mom!!!” Madoka protests, seeing Tatsuo’s reaction, blushing. “He’s my best friend.” Madoka lets go. “It’s not right for a guy to lust for his friend like that,” she protests.

“Guy and girl relationships aren’t normal. It will give you a bad reputation.” Mana wiggles a finger at Madoka. “Anyone looking might think that he’s your…” Mana warns Madoka.

“No! Don’t say that!” Madoka gasps, clapping a hand on Mana’s mouth quickly, eyes as wide as they can go. “I don’t like guys!” she whispers fiercely.

“Personally, I really like the idea of your becoming a miko. With a body like that! But on the other hand, you wearing amazing sexy clothes...” Tatsuo grins, a perverted lustful expression on his face.

Madoka gasps at Tatsuo. “You’re a total pervert!”

“Why don’t we shelve this and have some dinner and talk more civilized about it afterwards with full stomachs?” Kozuke suggests, eyeing Tatsuo with distaste.

“I can agree with that. Based on her decision, we’ll decide her fate.” Kiyomi smiles that challenging smile.

“Isn’t there any more food?” one of the gorilla youkai asks.

Everyone turns to the table, and note that the entire feast has been devoured. One of the gorillas belches loudly.Later that night, the four gorillas shuffle out in a line and bow repeatedly as they walk out of the yard. Kiyomi watches them go and turns to Kozuke with a smile. “My job is completed faithfully, Kozy. Now let’s talk about this ravishingly lovely girl’s fate.” She gestures towards Madoka with her fan.

Madoka blushes and squirms.

Kozuke sighs. “I see you’re going to be difficult. Why would that be?” he inquires.

“She’s too delicious to pass up on. Oh, I don’t mean to literally eat… I speak rather of a special relationship.” She eyes Madoka with a very inviting expression, and a very hungry one.

“Yuri?” Tatsuo gasps. “You know Madoka used to be a guy, right?”

“I’m well aware.” Kiyomi smiles primly.

“You don’t care about that at all?” Tatsuo asks her.

“You don’t care either right? She has a great body! Somehow I don't think it makes any difference to you either.” She chuckles.

Tatsuo blushes brightly. “No… I really don’t.” He laughs.

“You have a girlfriend, you lech!” Madoka gasps, blushes, and scowls at Tatsuo.

“What do you want to do, more to the point, Madoka?” Kozuke eyes the two with a sigh. “These two obviously lust after you. Kami’s and my intentions for you are pure, mostly for your benefit. Which do you really prefer? Kiyomi might have cleverness enough and power enough to protect you, but you won’t have any power personally. It seems clear what the best choice available to you is.”

Madoka frowns and squirms a little. “I don’t have to dance at festivals? No weird rituals?” she asks, hedging.

“If you elected, you certainly could, but none of that is required of you. You will have a completely normal high school life, and more important, you’ll learn how to control the spiritual power that is attracting youkai.” Kozuke gestures, his hands imploring.

Madoka hesitates.

“Of course choosing me is the best choice, isn’t it? You used to be a man, and you know exactly what you like, don’t you, Madoka-chan?” Kiyomi suddenly quickly glomps Madoka and snuggles her, seizing her head and pressing Madoka’s face firmly into her very impressive breasts. Madoka turns red from head to toe.