Tama giggled at Renya's act. Her hand reached out and ran her fingers through Renya's blonde hair.
"What a cute child."
Renya relished the sensation of Tama's fingers running through her hair across her head. As Tama hand pulled away, she felt surprised at how disappointed she was. Rising, Renya looked to Miko.
"Be gentle with me." Renya gave the bakeneko a white grin.
The cat nodded.
"I am far more worried about what you will do with me. However, if the son of the Lord of Darkness is here it can't be helped."
With that, the bakeneko's white and black tails swished as she turned into light and merged into Renya. Renya held her stomach and bent over, steam rose around her body. Tama reached out her hand. Renya turned to face Tama with gritted teeth and silver sweat dripping over her face.
"Get back." Renya said. "Give me space. You too, Syon. It would be a shame if you died before I could enjoy killing you. Calibration to new factors like magic or a cat can be annoying."
Tama's instincts went off like an alarm. She ducked back, looping her hand around Syon and flew towards the nearby fort. She ducked inside, admiring the ornate paneling on the door as she did. Tama breathed a sigh of relief as she dropped Syon like a rock. Syon verbalized an ouch to let Tama know she didn't like being treated like luggage, but Tama ignored her and walked over to Rikya and Satou. Rikya was leaning against a wooden wall resting with Satou beside her.
Tama crouched inspecting Rikya face then body. Satou felt that where Tama was looking was unnecessary.
"Who are you?" Satou said, standing. Her eyes went from the fox ears to the busty chest as her lips folded down into a show of disapproval.
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Tama didn't take her eyes off Rikya, who gave Tama a weak smile to let her know she was alright. Tama reached into her robe, pulling out two of the weapons from the armory that Syon gave her. A long dull golden gauntlet and a short magical girl stick appeared on the ground. Tama picked up the dull gold lump. The finger holes only looked like they'd cover half of a finger. Although this style is referred to as fingerless gloves, there clearly was some coverage of fingers there. She handed it to Satou.
Satou grabbed it, her stare not leaving Tama. Her brow furrowed as Tama's 'searching' became more disprovable. Tama spared Satou a glance.
"I'm Rikya's imaginary friend. A lot of people are seeing me these days, so it's become difficult. There's a girl outside who is behaving strangely, it's probably that time of the month, I think. Could you please erect a barrier with that, Dark Angel?"
The bags under Satou's eyes quivered.
"'Dark Angel'? Not even Rikya-"
Rikya's head turned to her and smiled. She knew. Satou turned away, looking outside through a cut out perfectly shaped circular window. Renya was struggling outside, random bursts of steam and silver liquid splattered around as manacial laughter erupted. Syon rose and watched beside Satou out of interest, then pulled Satou away from the window by her shoulder as soon as she saw.
Syon slapped her palms together in prayer closing her eyes, kneeling before the little dull golden haired girl in a black dress.
"Satou? Please - listen to Tama we will all die. That silver is poison. It's turning into a gas - if it drifts here we're dead."
Satou's eyebrow twitched. Asking a favor right when you meet someone - that sort of behavior was the worst.
"Fine." Satou swung out her hand. " 'Shadow Derivatives'." Satou said lazily.
Outside, a golden dome surrounded the fort. A silver mist cascaded over in a cloud, hissing as the barrier evaporated it when it touched.
Satou held out the dull golden gauntlet to Tama.
"I don't take gifts from strangers. This should be enough."
Syon stood up and blocked her view of Tama.
"I am not a stranger. That weapon is from me. I work for your dad. If his daughter were to go missing because of me - I would be troubled." Syon said.
Luckily, she had experience talking to Satou's father. Rules were very important to him. Syon assumed that the child would be the same way. After all, Satou's dad ran the world's financial system. Strict adherence to cultural custom, that was Syon's plan.
Satou looked at the gauntlet with disgust.
"I don't like it."
It didn't work at all.