Tsuki Tsuki Vol 1 Chapter 5

Chapter 05: The promise from seven years ago

Since birth, she’d been bullied by everyone in the village, since she was the daughter of a prostitute.

Daughter of a whore, daughter of a slut, an impure girl…No matter how badly she’d been insulted, she’d force herself to smile and forgave them.

Crying all alone, the girl prayed to God. She asked for love. She naively served God and dedicated herself to only do good. She believed that some day, someone would accept her.

The pest spread into the village of the girl during a certain year.

To appease the despair in the their hearts, the villagers had searched for a human sacrifice.

The villagers fell into a group hysteria and lit the church, where the girl lived, on fire. While shouting angrily, while shouting insults, while laughing, they insanely declared.

The girl was scared. Because of her, the church was burned and the Sisters, who didn’t have a chance to escape, were also enveloped by the flames. In desperation, the girl vehemently wished that the Sisters would be saved. That the fire would stop.

It was a stigma. The wounds Christ suffered at the crucifixion appearing on her body was a sacred phenomena.

Now she could save everyone.

But the villagers, who’d witnessed this miracle, shouted together.

A witch trial was started for the girl. That was the thanks she got for her good deed.

The girl still hadn’t given up. She believed that as long as she continued with her good deeds, someone would need her, someone would repay her with kindness.

But due to her powers and her unaging body, people called her that word again.

The girl just wanted to be needed by someone. She wanted to be smiled at.

Not giving up, the girl kept on wishing.

God didn’t turn to the girl. The girl was only granted that power. The people didn’t turn to the girl either. They only feared her as a devil….. The only one who turned to the girl was a weird devil.

But I couldn’t help but shout.

—That was the story of a single girl. The story of a girl, who was abandoned by her mother on a night with a full moon.
The story of a girl, who had no choice but to become a devil, since no one needed her.

“…Mh?”

“…Oh? You’re up?”

“Are you okay?”

She had a worried expression. Her long eyelashes and finely chiselled features filled my vision.

I was at a riverbank. The river was flowing peacefully in front of me.

“—!”

I remembered Luna’s crying face.

Gogyou-san asked me, a bit worried as I had gotten up so suddenly.

“Not so hasty, Hijiri. I fear Shinobu did something to make her angry. Maybe he couldn’t hold back anymore and fondled her boobies?”

Elni was playing around by hugging Gogyou-san from behind.

But meanwhile I was….

I clenched my fist.

Listening to my words, Gogyou-san and Elni made bewildered expressions.

When I nodded, both Elni and Gogyou-san tilted their heads.

“What is?”

Gogyou-san nodded in agreement with Elni’s words.

According to Elni and Gogyou-san, there were great risks involved for devils who come here by breaking through the barrier of the human world. If they forced their way through, they would lose a major part of their powers and couldn’t use their original powers in the human world. And if they were found by an exorcist like Gogyou-san, they were in real trouble.

That devil— Bram shouldered that huge risk to bring back Luna. There had to be a reason for it.

“Mh? The father of the Blondie came by?”

Luna surely had called that red-haired devil, Bram, her father.

—The kid from seven years ago.

“But didn’t it turn out alright?”

“Now you’re freed from that devil, right?”

Gogyou-san and Elni kept saying “Good for you”.

“It was strange to begin with. The ring I gave you links a guardian spirit to the wearer based on their relationship with it, so usually it would give you an ancestor or animal as a guardian spirit…. But I wonder why you got a devil?”

“When I first saw you, it didn’t seem like you had any form of relationship with a devil. I was happy that you treated me to food, so I really wanted to grant you a guardian spirit….. But, I’m sorry. I ended up giving you a devil. I’m really sorry.”

“I’ll give you a proper guardian spirit next. I’ll give you the perfect guardian spirit that’s beautiful, refined and will make you happy just by being by your side.”

“Don’t need it.”

Elni offered merrily, but I declined outright.

It was no lie that I wanted her by my side.

“…Hey, Elni. You said the ring links the wearer with the spiritual guardian based on their relationship, but what if Luna and I have some kind of relationship—-”

Elni interrupted me.

I had the feeling that I had met Luna before already.

Gogyou-san had stayed quiet so far, when she suddenly asked.

—The kid from seven years ago.

In the past, yes, seven years ago something happened.

“Guh.”

“Nanjou-kun!”

My mind was surprisingly clear.

The screeching of brakes. A small silhouette blown away. Red blood. Empty words. Sobbing tears. My own wet cheeks. The warmth of a hand on my head. A gentle warmth. A gentle smile. Gentle words. A sad smile. Sad eyes. Two small hands that were so sadly powerless.

“Nanjou-kun!”

When I came to, Gogyou-san and Elni were supporting my body.

“Shinobu, does it hurt? Are you okay? Why would you do that?”

Ahh, I see.

Yeah, I had met Luna in my childhood.

When I suddenly started talking, Elni and Gogyou-san looked at each other, but didn’t stop me. They both closed their mouths and to urge me to go on, they stared at me.

I wanted to put them into words. Give them shape. All of them, my precious memories….I didn’t want to forget them again.

It was a cheap plush-toy, but she treasured it immensely.

The cat plush-toy was a bit dirty and the right arm was torn. But still,

She always followed me with a smile and saying “Brother, brother”.

She followed behind me with a teary face.

I should have just walked with her hand-in-hand.

The foreboding sound of brakes screeching.

My mind went blank and I couldn’t breathe anymore.

Red blood. Her small body that wouldn’t move at all. The cat plush-toy she still held in her arms.

—Mr. Cat, I didn’t drop you this time.

I couldn’t stop my tears.

No one blamed me. Only I kept blaming myself.

So I….

I’d been ready to give my soul in exchange for Nazuna’s recovery.

—It’s okay. It’s all okay now.

I was happy. Nazuna smiled again. Hugging the plush-toy, she smiled again.

To that Gogyou-san and Elni opened their eyes widely.

Yes, a promise. On the day Luna saved Nazuna, I wanted to thank her in some way. I wanted to see her again.

I strongly clenched my fists as I remembered about it.

—-I’ll stay with you. I’ll protect you.

“I want to save Luna. Please help me.”

It was frustrating, but my strength alone wasn’t enough to save Luna.

“….I certainly have a spell for that.”

I grabbed Gogyou-san’s shoulders with both hands and begged her vehemently.

“Condition?”

“I’ll come with you. That’s the only condition.”

“I can’t let you go alone after all.”

While I was fascinated by her smile, Gogyou-san pulled something out of her pocket. It was a black sphere, which was the size of a golf ball.

“It’s a compass. I can discover a devil’s location with this.”

“It doesn’t pinpoint the location, but only points towards the general direction and gives an estimate of the distance. So it might take some time to actually find her.”

“It seems my type is in demand here.”

I said wearily, when Elni pouted.

Already half in tears, Elni put her right hand over the compass and shouted.

While adding some completely fake Swahili, Elni roared, when something surprising happened.

“How’s that! I infused the compass with my God Power! Now it can pinpoint a devil’s location! Great, isn’t it, Shinobu? Praise me!”

So, if we chased after the compass, we’d find Luna?

Gogyou-san said, astonished, and Elni answered “I’m a Goddess after all!” with her chest puffed out.

Hearing my words, Elni shouted an “Okay!” and approached Gogyou-san.

She mumbled erotically and puffed into Gogyou-san’s ear with a “Fuh~”.

Gogyou-san let out a cute voice in surprise.

“Hijirin’s weak spot is her ears.”

The bright-red Gogyou-san started following the compass. Elni also followed while saying “I want to touch Hijirin’s earlobe.”

I mumbled in my mind and followed after them both.

“There, huh.”

“So gloomy…”

“Right the place that ghosts and devils prefer. It’s full of blood, sadness and hatred. Devils might like this place, but I’m a Goddess, so I don’t really like it.”

Then I noticed it.

Seeing silhouettes by the entrance, I was certain.

Most likely they were Bram’s companions.

“These two are devils.”

After Gogyou-san, Elni made a nonsensical interjection with a straight face.

I ignored Elni and was going to head for the devils, when

“Plan? These two are devils. No other choice but to kick their asses.”

“…Shinobu, they’ve already beaten you before, right?”

“No, they didn’t beat me. I merely tripped and fell down.”

“Shut up. I’m going. That’s what I’m here for.”

“No.”

While still holding onto my arm, Gogyou-san said with a straight look.

Ignoring my surprise, Gogyou-san pulled her bamboo sword pouch from her back and continued.

Gogyou-san said and handed me the compass.

“….Gogyou-san?”

To Gogyou-san, who had lowered her head, I said—

“Yeah, my glorious butt—-wait, what the?”

…No, there wasn’t really a need to ask who it was. I glared at Elni sinisterly.

I see, a joke. The serious Gogyou-san became all red and troubled by saying “B- Butt?”. What to do about that?

“Y- Yes!”

I let out a small sigh, then faced Gogyou-san once again.

This time, I lowered my head.

Gogyou-san nodded firmly.

Elni said, relaxed and smiling.

From her looks, she looked totally unsuited for battle.

Elni said frivolously, then walked away beside Gogyou-san.

For some reason that was strangely cool.

I muttered quietly and headed for the back entrance.

I had to advance. Just believe in Gogyou-san and Elni, and advance.

I heard a voice.

The two were talking about something.

“….Father. I will not go back. I want to stay here.”

“Yes. Shinobu-san told me to stay by his side. So I—”

Bram interrupted her and strongly expressed his words.

I heard Bram’s voice filled with anger.

I see. So these headaches were from Bram’s spell.

I looked at Luna, who faced Bram with her fists still clenched.

I took a big breath, clenched my fists—-and kicked open the door in front of me.

“…Shinobu-san?”

“Yeah, it’s me, Shinobu-san. I came to get you, Luna.”

“What are you here for, human?”

“I came to get Luna back. Get in my way and I’ll punch you.”

Bram muttered quietly and swung his right hand.

Yes, I could tell by the sound and distortion in the air.

I sharpened my five senses.

I stepped forwards with my left leg, twisted my waist and struck the shockwave from below at an angle with the bottom of my left palm, knocking it away. The shockwave passed behind me and hit something, with a loud noise.

He probably hadn’t expected me to redirect it. Bram’s expression changed.

While I gave him a fearless smile at the front, a cold sweat ran down my back.

What’s more, if he’d shot them at me repeatedly, I would’ve been done for. But—

Luna was going to rush over to me, but I stopped her with my right hand.

I’ll prove it to you.

“I’ll protect you.”

“I promised, right?”

Sorry. Sorry for forgetting until now. But I remembered now and wouldn’t forget it again.

It looked like he was planning to go all out.

I roared, then strongly kicked off the ground and rushed at Bram.

I couldn’t dodge it completely.

“Guah!”

Luna was watching. Without even blinking, she was looking at me full of worry.

“…Why would you go so far, human?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Because I promised!”

Seven years ago, when Luna saved Nazuna, I’d wanted to do something for her as thanks.

I liked her. I wanted to meet the gentle devil that saved my sister again.

But the summoning failed. I made a mistake.

Through that I got a glimpse into Luna’s memories.

….The person, who helped me, had cried. She’d always been crying by herself.

So I’d thought that I’ll protect her from now on.

But my hand was powerless. I had ended up letting go of the hand I’d grasped onto.

I will come to see you again. I will definitely come. And at that time…

Yeah, right.

I had always trained, so that next time I could protect her, so that next time I wouldn’t let go of her hand, so that next time I wouldn’t lose to the opponent in front of me.

“UWRAAR!”

It was like a heavy gale. If I was careless for even a second, I would surely be blown away.

“…Give up, human. Or you’ll die.”

I hated him. It was the same seven years ago. Easily blowing me away, tampering with my memories and taking away Luna. I’m sure he thinks it’s all for Luna’s sake. But

I couldn’t help but shout!

You couldn’t stand seeing Luna get betrayed. Still

“Then….”

“Then, what should have I done!? She was always being betrayed! Always betrayed by those she believed in! Could you leave her alone like that? In the demonic realm no one will betray Luna! She won’t get hurt any further!”

“Then you’re saying you can protect her? You can make her happy? You think a human like you can protect her, a devil?”

Repelling a close shockwave, I shouted.

“…You think you can be happy staying together with a devil?”

I shouted vehemently, when the attacks suddenly stopped.

We were only separated by about five metres.

“Kuh!”

“Too slooow!”

Bram wanted to move back, but I didn’t let him. At the same time that I raised my lowered knee, I spun my waist and thrust my left arm out—-and drove the bottom of my left palm into Bram’s right side.

“WRAAR!”

I struck with the bottom of my palm, rotating it in a corkscrew movement, into Bram’s left side, —Bram instantly coughed up blood from his mouth.

Most likely his innards had been crushed. While coughing up blood, Bram got on his knees.

I declared while looking down upon Bram.

As he coughed up more blood, Bram said while groaning.

Bram stood up slowly.

With shaking fists, Bram continued with a “But”.

Bram looked at me. His eyes, shaken by sadness, looked straight at me.

Bram pointed out his right hand while faltering.

Bram let loose a shockwave from his right hand, but it didn’t reach me and just hit the ground.

Bram desperately extended his hand.

A puddle of blood had already formed at Bram’s feet. Bram was bleeding from all over his body. It wasn’t just from the damage I dealt.

Powerful devils shouldered a high risk by coming to the human world. Their original powers are taken away temporarily and they aren’t able to use them. That’s what Gogyou-san and Elni said.

At last, Bram collapsed onto the ground.

Luna rushed over to Bram and gently lifted his body.

“You’ll suffer sadness, you know? Our lifespans are different compared to humans. He can’t be by your side forever. Do you understand that?”

Luna said with a firm nod.

That was the promise from seven years ago. The promise I had forgotten. The precious promise.

Ahh, right.

The reason Luna showed up, was that at the bottom of my heart I had wished for Luna.

With a gentle smile, Luna continued with a “But”.

Luna gave me a smile.

Those were the words that I’d always longed for.

My chest warmed up. I couldn’t stop myself from hugging Luna.

I tightly hugged Luna as to confirm her existence.

Luna was crying. She was crying happily. So I—-

“Ahn?”

I frowned and faced the voice—-down at my feet.

Somehow, the old man Bram was making a fuss at my feet.

I shut him up with a kick of my heel and looked at Luna again.

“Hey, bastard! I won’t let you! Stop it!”

When I looked closer, his left arm was missing. It was gone from the elbow down.

Maybe he noticed my look, but the old man explained it kindly. Nobody asked, you know. I once again kicked him away.

The old man crawled back.

“Go away. This is a great moment right now.”

“Ah, ouch! Y- You hit me! Please stop it, Dad!”

…Damn, he really hit me. I only hustled him away.

“…What are you guys doing?”

“While we were fighting to the death, you guys were playing around?”

“No fair! Let me in too!”

“…Gogyou-san, are you okay?”

But Gogyou-san answered with a small smile.

To be honest, I wasn’t okay at all. If I were to relax, I would fall down flat.

“Never felt better. My body hurts a bit here and there, but I’m totally fine. It’s on the level of mosquito bites.”

“Hmm. Then I’m okay too. Your attacks felt like the touch of a baby.”

“…He’s Luna’s father? He seems like an idiot.”

“But he sure is a strange devil. He’s a devil, yet he’s got a guardian spirit.”

The old man make a perplexed expression and Elni nodded with a “Yeah”.

Elni stared at the old man with narrow eyes.

“…Can’t be.”

“Does that woman have a scar under her eye? A small scar. No, it’s supposed to be covered by her blonde hair. Does her hair cover her left eye?”

“Wh- What? You hadn’t noticed it yourself? It’s like you said, her bangs are covering her left eye. See—–”

“Ahh….”

For just a moment, the transparent silhouette of a beautiful woman appeared before us. Then she smiled at the old man, opened her mouth a bit and muttered something…. Then she quietly disappeared.

The old man mumbled and shaked lightly.

I called out to the old man.

“…I know that.”

“I knew that all along. I just….was so lonely.”

“But she’s always watched over me….”

“Old man…”

The old man interrupted me and headed for Luna.

After saying just that, the old man walked away.

“Thank you, Father. I… do not know my real father, so you are the only father I have.”

The old man nodded with a tearful expression.

“Who are you calling a perverted old gentleman!? You damn born-pervert!”

I opened my eyes widely.

He praised me.

I said while I scratched my head and the old man made a perplexed expression.

I lowered my head to the old man.

I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t raise my head for a while.

When I raised my head, the old man threw me something with a look of uncertaintity.

I caught it with my right hand and looked at it….it was a blue ring.

After he gave Luna a gentle look, he continued.

Geez. Now I’d have to lower my head once more.

“…Shinobu-san.”

Ahh, I could protect her properly this time. When I thought that, all the strength left my body and I wobbled.

“Nanjou-kun!”

“There”

“Got a Shinomun!”

“W- Wawah. A kidnapping! Shinobu-san is being kidnapped!”

Gogyou-san tried to calm down the panicking Luna.

When I looked up, Elni was wearing a bright smile.

I smiled as I was dragged away. I couldn’t suppress my teary smile.

I laughed loudly.

They would surely tell us:

Epilogue

This morning, I woke up earlier than my alarm clock. When I turned my head and looked at the clock, I noticed that I’d woken up two minutes earlier than usual. Going back to sleep now would prove to be difficult.

Lately, due to some kind of influence, Luna would attack me with tickling, poking or by pressing her body against me to wake me up.

She herself might not be aware of it, but pressing her body against me was pretty erotic.

Maybe Luna had noticed that I wake up more consistently when she presses her body against me, she has been using it more often. I was happy, but also embarrassed. Shinomun was embarrased. Just as I thought that Luna was taking her time today,

I felt a soft pressure and warmth on my arm.

The job of waking me had been snatched away by Luna, so recently Nazuna had started to sneak into my bed, so that I’d pay more attention to her.

“Nazucat is such a bad girl.”

A strangely erotic voice from a silver-haired girl—-Elni.

But what an outfit to sleep in. She had taken off her usual yellow hoodie, but for some reason she was wearing a gym outfit, even bloomers.

I took a close look. Bloomers. An endangered species. A treasure embodying men’s hopes and dreams. Ahh, what was I supposed to do now? Should I worship it with ‘Thanks~’?

I had unintentionally folded my arms. But the bloomers weren’t the problem.

Why was she sleeping here? And even in bloomers. Just what was going on? Had Elni and I participated in a sports tournament in the middle of the night?

Last night, Elni had come in through my window and told me “I got an anime DVD, so let’s watch it together”, so we watched anime all night.

“Oh my, no problem then.”

“Shinobu-san, it is morning~”

“Brother, it’s morning~ Today I’m here too~”

“Elni, wake up. Wake up and get out of here.”

In this situation, the door of my room swung open as Luna and Nazuna appeared. Both were giving me warm smiles while saying “Brother~” and “Shinobu-san~”, but the moment they saw Elni and I, they instantly froze as they continued to smile. Just like they’d been petrified.

Luna recovered first from the petrification and exclaimed in shock. But only for a moment. Leaving aside the still petrified Nazuna,

Luna clenched both her fists before her chest and declared as such.

“Shinobu-san! I will not lose!”

For starters, I cheered on Luna.

Looks like my troublesome days would continue for a while longer.

Chapter end