Ichi smiled at Rikya. Rikya fidgeted a little under his gaze. Ichi towered over her.

"What's up with that? Tama's idea?"

And yet his tone came out playful. Rikya untensed. She didn't know Ichi. They spent time in the shrine together, talking back and forth as she guided him in training. Ichi was friendly, yet easily frustrated - and dumb. Rikya felt like she had no choice but to lie. She had no idea about Ichi's ability to smell lies.

"Tama's idea."

Rikya thought to blame her. From what Ichi said before, he was already focused on her. Whether it was her body or deceptive nature Rikya couldn't tell, probably both. Ichi's eyes hidden in shadow as he tilted his head down under the moonlight.

"No need to lie, Rikya. I'm not mad. I'm curious. Half of me feels like thanking you, but I at least want to know what I'm getting into here."

Rikya fidgeted.

"But, I'm not lying?"

"Yeah. You are."

Rikya balked at Ichi's confident tone. His advantage in the situation was supernatural, and against a little girl, it was no better than bullying.

"I don't know what to say. Tama... she's... really smart. And old! She's very old. Big breasts. Tall?"

Rikya increasing lost her will as Ichi stayed silent and still. His forearm leaned on the orc sword. Rikya caught his gaze and shivered.

"What's your relation to them? You're not... they're not important to you, are they?"

Ichi lost his threatening stance and shrugged. It was as if his anger was a trick of the moonlight.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"They're trouble. Like I said, I'm just curious. Why'd you do it, Rikya? Did Satou put you up to it?"

Ichi somehow outright knew she was involved as well. Rikya couldn't process why. She usually was good at understanding the relations between people. With Renya, she failed to see her relation to Scipio with her Path Weaving magic. With Ichi, he only looked like a black hole. It bothered her.

"I - I did it." Rikya admitted. "The truth is, I was looking for a way out of this village for a long time. However, with the Spirit Hunter's of the Seer's Council, I could never get far. Since I knew you could break Tama's seal, I hoped that Tama would let me escape through Spirit Gate. I was afraid to talk to you at school because if I messed up, I'd ruin my only chance to leave. You were my only hope, Ichi."

"So, why capture Myon and Syon, then? With whatever that strange magic that was around them. The golden chains." Ichi said.

"Countermeasures against my family. I intended to rely on Satou and Tama once we got past the Spirit Gate, but once Tama told me about the Armory Myon and Syon were holding... the repository of magical weapons they collected over the years without the Seer's Council's knowledge, I knew I had to have it. And I didn't want them coming after me."

Ichi nodded.

"Ok. Neat."

Ichi smiled at her and made to walk away. It was Rikya who snatched the hem of his robe.

"Wait, that's it? How'd you even know I was lying, anyways?"

Ichi grinned and tapped his nose.

"You're too serious. Tanuki can smell lies you know. I'm sad, Rikya, I thought we were better friends than that."

Rikya let go of his robe and sighed.

"Stop joking. There's no magic like that."

"Are you sure?" Ichi grinned at her.

Rikya stared at him. It must be instinct. He must have guessed that she had a role in it, though why Ichi felt the need to press her on that she couldn't fathom. There's no way a tanuki could smell lies. That sounded like a fairy tale. Ichi turned to go, but Rikya felt the need to check one more thing with him.

"What are you going to do, if you see the Spirit Hunter twins again?"

Ichi was already sauntering home. He melted into the darkness of the forest and waved with the back of his hand as he answered.

"At the time, I'll figure it out. No matter what I decide to do, I already decided to protect you." Ichi turned his face with the moonlight revealing half of his features. "Against all comers. 'Family or friends, it's just more people', right?"