Eidolon

Back in the car, the silence felt heavier. “Can we go to the shrine early?” Rei asked, her voice quieter now, “There’s no point in going back to the hotel.” Cillian hesitated, the memory of Takumi descending the stairs with Rei flashing, unbidden, behind his eyes. “Sure,” he murmured, pulling out of the parking spot. After a smooth turn onto the road leading out of the city, he spoke again, his tone careful.

“I know I’m not supposed to…”, he paused, his eyebrows knitting together, “Just know that, if you happen to be… uncomfortable in that place. Then you can always call me.” He was defying a direct order not to pry, but his ability to protect her was his highest priority. The cityscape began to give way to glimpses of forest.

Rei was deeply moved by the bravery it took to voice that concern. She rubbed her hands together, weighing how much to say. “I appreciate that,” she said eventually, flashing him a confident smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “But no need to worry. I’ll be fine.” She said the words as much to herself as to him, turning to watch the mountains. The car started zigzagging up as she added, “Especially in this killer outfit!” Cillian just gave her sweater-troll a side-glace, opting for silence.

Later, as the trees grew denser, she asked, “Will you ever use the clothes from the photoshoot?” Cillian huffed, “Not a chance.” Rei laughed, “Would you mind if I took one of your outfit-bags? As a gift for… my host.” She caught herself, the words feeling dangerously close to a breach of Oni secrecy. The weight of being Kitsune settled on her shoulders. Cillian raised an eyebrow but then shrugged, “You’d be doing me a favor.”

Relieved, Rei thanked him. Her eyes discreetly measured his height and shoulders in the seat beside her, confirming he was roughly the same size as Reon. Though Reon’s build is more slender, his muscles are bigger, she thought, the clothes should fit him.

The outfit she had in mind was one of the more subdued, if such a word could be used for their new wardrobe ensembles: dark green linen pants with hand-stitched leaves, a matching white shirt with delicate green embroidery, and a fluffy cardigan featuring a single, prowling tiger on the back. Styled with green leather mules and a matching belt. It was a calculated offering, a gift of bold, modern aesthetics for a man steeped in ancient tradition, the tiger a nod to the Oni tattoos.

The car came to a quiet stop in the secluded parking area, the imposing stone stairs looming before them. Rei took a deep, steadying breath. They were an hour early, but she hoped the shrine’s isolation meant Reon would be alone and unbothered by her premature arrival. Cillian studied her hesitation. “Maybe you’d better wait in the car with me?” he suggested, his tone neutral but his concern evident.

The question snapped her out of her reverie. She offered him a tight smile, “No. That’s not necessary.” She stepped out into the cool mountain air, retrieving the bag with her new sportswear and the specific translucent bag containing the outfit she intended for Reon. Satisfied, she stepped back as Cillian slammed the trunk shut. He eyed the staircase with clear unease, his body tense. “I’m ordered not to go anywhere near the stairs,” he declared, the words sounding like a confession of failure. 

“No problem,” Rei smiled, a pang of sympathy hitting her. She had no idea how long this would take, “Maybe you should drive back to the hotel and relax?” Cillian shook his head, his jaw set, “Takumi’s orders were clear. Stay close.” Rei nodded, forcing a brave smile onto her face before letting it melt into something more casual, an air of calm she desperately wanted to feel, “Well, I hope you won’t be too bored. You could always try on your new outfits and practice your poses. It’s always good to have a Plan B, and Astrid did say you have great potential as a model.”

He didn’t laugh but waved her jokingly away with a faint smile. She turned and began the long climb. Each step upwards felt like a step away from the modern world and deeper into the shadowy realm of the Oni. Her mind reeled.

What would he ask her to cook? Would her early arrival be seen as eagerness or disrespect? Would the dynamic be different now that the brutal initiation was over, or was this dinner simply another chapter of punishment, offering new risks and consequences for offending him?

She resolved to be careful, yet she remembered how, even in his sadism, he had seemed more entertained by her sharp retorts and challenges than by the physical reprimands, which seemed like habit to him. Her unique value, she realized, lay in her novelty, her ignorance as a new Oni member and her brashness. While she did fear him, she had, as she’d mentioned to Cillian in her pajamas, moved beyond simple fear into a state of mysterious permanent toleration.

She looked up from her thoughts, her breath catching in her chest. Reon was waiting at the top. He must have been notified of her approach. Today, he wasn’t dressed in the ceremonial gi with the golden belt. Instead, he wore a simple but exquisitely soft-looking blue cashmere sweater and pressed dark brown suit pants.

The simple, elegant color palette suited his eyes and complexion perfectly. Before he had looked like a karate master, now he looked like he’d stepped from the pages of a high-fashion magazine. Even from a distance, she saw his eyebrows rise visibly, his gaze taking in the sight of her, a patterned, determined shape hauling shopping bags up his sacred mountain.

Rei arrived at the plateau, slightly winded from the climb. Following Takumi’s example from last time, she bowed deeply, her upper body level with the ground. “Honored Ceremonial Master,” she greeted, her tone courteous. She heard the muted sound of his steps as he descended from the shrine’s entrance and walked toward her. “Welcome, Kitsu,” he said, his voice warm and laced with amusement, “I’m pleased by your early arrival, though confused by your… attire. Be at ease.”

She straightened to find him standing directly in front of her, so close she had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. The striking resemblance to Karasu hit her anew, a fresh wave of surprise that forced a gasp from her lips, just as it had at their first meeting. Reon’s smile was knowing, his startling blue eyes cataloging the embroidered troll on her sweater and the bamboo pattern on her wide-legged jeans. It was a silent demand for an explanation.

Rei offered a smile mixed with excitement and excuse, “It’s rare for Takumi to give me time off. I thought I’d use it to do some shopping. After all, cooking in a bronze skirt-suit isn’t entirely comfortable.” She held up the transparent shopping bag, “This is a gift for you—and an apology for arriving early. After the trip to the mall, it made more sense to come directly.”

Reon took the bag with a curious and vaguely skeptical expression. He didn’t look inside it, instead, he gestured toward the shrine, “Let’s step inside.” He placed a firm hand on the small of her back, right over the still sore sakura brand of her tattoo, triggering a slight hiss from her. The sound made him smirk as he guided her into the main chamber with its towering stone pillars.

Inside, a pot of steaming tea waited, a mirror image of the setup during her ritual. Rei slowed, flashbacks of that ordeal and the memory of Takumi’s tense form across the table surfacing.