The Day of Thunder

He shrugged. "Small wonders."

Then a pause.

"So aside what you gleaned at first, what does your gut say? Is this thing too interested in me and her?"

"Unlikely. It's much more likely that it was just speaking to your specific interests, since what it offered never considered what might entice her. It's... not impossible, but I think it's interest is elsewhere..."

He nodded along, it didn't quite put his mind at rest, but it was a start. You know, all he had to worry about now was the problem from before. Easy right?

That brought him back to another matter, however. Scratching his chin beneath his mask he asked, "Have you been to the shrine here?"

"I have not. My focus has been elsewhere. What makes you bring it up?"

"When I asked Chouri-san about it, she explained it was dedicated to Inari", he said without an ounce of belief in those words. "Yet I went there, there are guards who keep you out, and the place...to sound a bit uncultured, is fucking creepy."

"I figured someone with your spiritual standing might be able to take a look unmolested. And, if you happen to decide to, I wouldn't mind tagging along as another pair of eyes."

"I'll take that into consideration. Perhaps I would be allowed, but perhaps not. No harm in making the attempt, at least." Shinsei rubbed his eyes, taking a pause and a rather deep breath alongside it.

"Hang in there, sensei. Your secret's safe with me." He told the monk. "Let me know if you need a hand, got a friendly monk looking to be of use by the way, if you need an assistant."

That seemed to catch Shinsei's attention. "Interesting thing to bring up all of a sudden. Please elaborate on that point, you've piqued my curiosity."

"A girl of the Bat clan named Ryoshun Yukara", he answered. "She was raised and trained as a monk, and has done a lot for her people patrolling their territory. Recently she was injured badly in a battle with wolves, one of them took her arm. As you'd expect, she feels aimless and doesn't know what to do. Despite her monk training, she was very reliant on her martial skills to be of use. I was hoping she could help you, and you could help her."

"I see. I can certainly do what I can to assist her, though if you cannot find me, the one known as Nozomi would also be able to help, as one of my primary students. I find myself stretched very thin these days, and would not want her to languish in her thoughts for too long because my focus was tied up elsewhere. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Norikage-sama."

"Nozomi-san, huh?" he hadn't heard the name before. "I'll point her that way."

"Well, let me know if you decide to visit the shrine here, I'm interested in how that goes. Don't work overwork yourself, either. We're all missing enough sleep as it is."